Securing Your Bag: How to Advocate for Yourself This Bonus Season

It’s that time of year again—performance reviews, bonus decisions, and reflections on the past year. Advocating for yourself in the workplace can feel daunting, especially if you’re unsure how to highlight your value without seeming boastful. But here’s the truth: no one is going to advocate for you better than you.

If you’re gearing up for that annual review, now is the time to own your accomplishments and make sure you’re getting the recognition (and compensation) you deserve.

Here’s how to advocate for yourself like a boss:

1. Come Prepared with Receipts

The key to advocating for yourself is data. Before your review, gather examples of your accomplishments, initiatives, and results. Whether it’s successfully managing a project, saving the company money, or increasing efficiency, make sure you can back up your claims with specific metrics.

• Use a document or spreadsheet to track your wins throughout the year.

• Highlight moments where you exceeded expectations or took on responsibilities outside your role.

Being organized shows initiative and reinforces the narrative that you’re indispensable.

2. Align Your Value with Business Goals

Companies are driven by results, so frame your contributions in a way that highlights how you’ve helped the organization achieve its goals. For example:

• Did you increase revenue?

• Save time or resources?

• Boost team morale or foster collaboration?

Tie your achievements to the bigger picture to demonstrate your value.

3. Be Specific About What You Want

When advocating for a bonus or raise, avoid vague language like “I hope to get recognized” or “I feel I deserve more.” Be direct and specific.

• “Based on my contributions this year, I’d like to discuss a 10% increase in my salary.”

• “Given the results I’ve delivered, I believe a bonus in the range of X would reflect my performance.”

This shows you’ve thought about your worth and aren’t afraid to ask for it.

4. Use the Power of Self-Promotion (Without the Guilt)

Self-promotion doesn’t have to feel icky—it’s about presenting facts. Frame your success as a win for the team or the company. For example:

• “I’m proud of the work I did on [specific project] because it helped the team accomplish [result].”

• “Taking the lead on [initiative] resulted in [measurable outcome], which I believe aligns with our company’s goals.”

The key is balancing humility with confidence.

5. Address Challenges as Opportunities

If your year hasn’t been perfect (and whose has?), acknowledge challenges honestly but focus on how you’ve grown or addressed them. For example:

• “While [challenge] was difficult, I used it as an opportunity to [solution or skill learned].”

• “This year, I focused on improving [specific skill], which helped me achieve [specific result].”

Turning obstacles into growth moments shows resilience and accountability.

6. Stay Confident, Not Defensive

If your boss pushes back or brings up areas of improvement, don’t get defensive. Instead:

• Acknowledge their feedback and reiterate your value: “I appreciate your feedback on [area], and I’m already taking steps to improve by [action]. I also want to ensure my contributions to [specific achievements] are recognized.”

• Keep the focus on solutions and growth.
  

7. Follow Up

Advocating for yourself doesn’t end in the meeting. If decisions aren’t made immediately, follow up with an email summarizing your discussion, emphasizing your key points, and reiterating your expectations.

• Example: “Thank you for our conversation today. I appreciate the opportunity to discuss my contributions and goals for next year. As mentioned, I believe a bonus of X reflects my performance, and I’m excited to continue delivering results.”

A follow-up shows professionalism and ensures your request stays top of mind.

Advocating for yourself isn’t just about bonuses or raises—it’s about building confidence, self-respect, and a career where you feel valued. By coming prepared, aligning your value with business goals, and communicating effectively, you can secure the recognition you deserve this season. It's a skill—and one that will serve you far beyond bonus season.