This chart compares data between two salary trajectories each starting at $36,000.
The blue line represents the average salary of someone who receives no promotions, yet does receive an annual 3% increase. Whereas the orange line shows a typical career progression in which promotions are awarded every two years and are accompanied by a 15% salary bump.
In this example, the comparison of total compensation equates to an additional $2.5 Million for the person promoted througout the course of her career.
She was astounded and mortified by her findings. Research initially published in 2007 by Linda Babcock and Sara Laschever and subsequently shared by sources such as Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and Psychology Today, suggest the main reason Natalie was overlooked for promotions for so many years AND missed out on increases in compensation. It was simply that she didn't ask...costing her anywhere between $1.5M and $2.5M in career-long compensation.
Natalie's #1 mistake had nothing to do with performance, but rather in not signaling that she was ready, in not voicing the question...How do I earn my next promotion? This omission caused her to lose out on important career breaks, higher-level projects, leadership opportunities, and compensation too.
What Women Need to Know:
While Natalie has learned her lesson in hindsight, she wants to spread the word so that other women (and men) don't fall prey to the same mistake and suffer professional and financial consequences. "What held me back were two things (1) Not knowing that it was up to me to ask, and (2) even if I had known that I had no idea what to say or ask."
Not knowing what to say made me extremely uncomfortable.
Natalie won't be making the same mistake twice. To ensure future success, she researched and discovered a reliable tool, a Promotion Preparation Guide. As an introvert and someone who jokes that she didn't "Get a job as an engineer so I'd have to talk to people!" Natalie shares that this guide is essential. And the best part? It includes an option for confidential and live support.