I’m a little surprised by how often I’m asked by people how to ask for a raise. I don’t normally answer a question with a question, but in this circumstance, I do it anyway. The question I ask is, “Do you deserve a raise?”

I get a variety of answers to that question. Many people say, “well, I need one.” This is where the frustration begins to set in for them. Because my reply is that if I’m your employer, I could care less that you think you need a raise.

I then ask them to explain to me, with a pretty good level of specificity, why they deserve a raise. I want them to tell me what they have done to make themselves more valuable to their employer.

It is my belief that no one is entitled to a raise they didn’t earn just because they have been with a company for a certain period of time.

Consistently increasing the value you bring to your employer is the fastest way to earn a raise. Increasing your value helps you stand out from your colleagues and coworkers. Standing out as a valuable employee not only helps you earn a raise, it can open doors to career growth, job security, and personal fulfillment. Becoming indispensable to your employer isn’t about working harder—it’s about working smarter, aligning your efforts with the company’s goals, and consistently demonstrating your worth.

Here’s a practical guide to increasing your value at work, with actionable steps you can start implementing today.

Understand Your Company’s Goals and Priorities

To be truly valuable, you need to align your work with what matters most to your employer. Take time to understand your company’s mission, vision, and current objectives. Are they focused on increasing revenue, improving customer satisfaction, or streamlining operations? Knowing this helps you prioritize tasks that directly contribute to those goals.

Actionable Steps:

Ask questions: In team meetings or one-on-ones, inquire about the company’s short- and long-term priorities.

Read up: Review company reports, strategic plans, or public communications (e.g., investor updates or press releases) to grasp the bigger picture.

Align your work: Frame your contributions in terms of how they support key objectives. For example, if customer retention is a priority, focus on delivering exceptional service or suggesting process improvements.

Example: If your company is pushing for digital transformation, volunteer to learn a new tool or platform that supports that initiative, like mastering a CRM system or analyzing data to improve decision-making.

Develop In-Demand Skills

Employers value employees who bring expertise that is relevant to the company’s needs. Stay ahead by continuously developing skills that are in demand, both within your role and in the broader industry. This could mean technical skills (e.g., data analysis, coding) or soft skills (e.g., communication, leadership).

Actionable Steps:

Identify skill gaps: Look at job descriptions for roles similar to yours or ask your manager which skills would make you more effective.

Invest in learning: Take online courses (platforms like Coursera, LinkedIn Learning, or Udemy are great), attend workshops, or earn certifications relevant to your field.

Apply your skills: Find opportunities to use your new skills on the job, whether through a special project or by improving an existing process.

Example: If your company uses data to drive decisions, learning basic Excel functions or a tool like Tableau can make you a go-to person for insights, increasing your value.

Take Initiative and Solve Problems

Valuable employees don’t wait for instructions—they proactively identify challenges and propose solutions. Being a problem-solver shows you are invested in the company’s success and can be trusted to handle responsibilities.

Actionable Steps:

Spot inefficiencies: Look for processes, tools, or workflows that could be improved and suggest actionable fixes.

Volunteer for challenges: Offer to lead a project, tackle a tough client issue, or streamline a task that others avoid.

Think ahead: Anticipate potential roadblocks in your team’s work and propose ways to address them before they become problems.

Example: If your team struggles with meeting deadlines due to poor task tracking, propose adopting a project management tool like Trello, or Asana and offer to set it up.

Build Strong Relationships

Your value isn’t just about what you do but how you work with others. Building strong relationships with colleagues, managers, and stakeholders fosters collaboration and makes you a trusted team member.

Actionable Steps:

Communicate effectively: Be clear, concise, and respectful in emails, meetings, and conversations.

Support your team: Offer help to colleagues, share credit for successes, and foster a positive work environment.

Network internally: Get to know people in other departments to understand their roles and how you can support cross-functional goals.

Example: If a coworker is overwhelmed, offer to take on a small task or share a resource that could help them, building goodwill and strengthening team dynamics.

Deliver Consistent, High-Quality Work

Reliability is a cornerstone of value. Employers prize employees who consistently meet or exceed expectations, deliver on time, and maintain high standards.

Actionable Steps:

Set clear goals: Break down large tasks into manageable steps and track your progress to stay on target.

Pay attention to detail: Double-check your work to avoid errors that could cost time or resources.

Seek feedback: Regularly ask for constructive feedback from your manager or peers to improve your performance.

Example: If you’re tasked with preparing a report, ensure it’s error-free, visually clear, and submitted early, demonstrating reliability and professionalism.

Be Adaptable and Embrace Change

Workplaces evolve—new technologies, strategies, or market conditions can shift priorities overnight. Employees who adapt quickly and embrace change are invaluable because they help the company stay agile.

Actionable Steps:

Stay open-minded: Approach new processes or tools with curiosity rather than resistance.

Learn quickly: Take the lead in mastering new systems or workflows, and share your knowledge with others.

Show resilience: Handle setbacks or unexpected changes with a positive attitude and focus on solutions.

Example: If your company adopts a new software platform, take the initiative to learn it early and help train your team, positioning yourself as a resource.

Communicate Your Value

It’s not enough to do great work—you need to make sure your contributions are visible (without being boastful). Employers often notice employees who can articulate their impact.

Actionable Steps:

Track your achievements: Keep a record of your accomplishments, such as projects completed, savings generated, or positive feedback received.

Share updates: In performance reviews or check-ins, highlight specific ways you have contributed to team or company goals.

Be proactive in meetings: Share ideas, insights, or progress updates to demonstrate your engagement.

Example: During a performance review, say, “I streamlined our reporting process, which saved the team 5 hours a week and improved data accuracy by 20%,” to quantify your impact.

Stay Positive and Professional

A positive attitude and professional demeanor make you a pleasure to work with, which enhances your value. Employers appreciate employees who inspire others and maintain composure under pressure.

Actionable Steps:

Stay solution-focused: Even when challenges arise, focus on what can be done rather than dwell on problems.

Show gratitude: Acknowledge others’ contributions and express appreciation for opportunities.

Handle conflict gracefully: Address disagreements calmly and constructively to maintain a positive work environment.

Example: If a project hits a snag, instead of complaining, say, “Let’s brainstorm a few ways to get this back on track,” showing leadership and optimism.

Mentor and Support Others

Helping your colleagues grow not only strengthens the team but also positions you as a leader, even if you’re not in a formal leadership role. Employers value employees who elevate those around them.

Actionable Steps:

Share knowledge: Offer to train a new hire or share tips with a struggling colleague.

Be a team player: Celebrate others’ successes and contribute to a collaborative culture.

Lead by example: Model the behaviors and work ethic you want to see in others.

Example: If a new team member is struggling with a task, spend 15 minutes walking them through it or sharing a helpful resource, showing you’re invested in the team’s success.

Stay Committed to Growth

Valuable employees never stop growing. Commit to continuous self-improvement, both in your role and as a professional, to stay relevant and impactful.

Actionable Steps:

Set personal goals: Identify one or two areas for growth each quarter, such as improving public speaking or mastering a new tool.

Seek mentorship: Connect with a mentor or manager who can guide your career development.

Stay curious: Read industry blogs, attend webinars, or follow thought leaders on platforms like X to stay informed about trends.

Example: Follow industry leaders on X to learn about emerging trends in your field, then share a relevant insight with your team to spark discussion.

Final Thoughts

Being more valuable to your employer is about aligning your efforts with their goals, continuously improving yourself, and making a positive impact on your team and organization. By taking initiative, building skills, and developing strong relationships, you’ll not only increase your worth but also create a more rewarding work experience for yourself.

Start small—pick one or two of these steps to focus on this week. Over time, these efforts will compound, making you an indispensable asset to your employer and setting you up for long-term career success.