Relationship with asking for money as a freelancer – part 2

Hi,

Thanks so much for your coaching on this! It was interesting, because when I actually looked at the all of the ways I add value to the publication, I realised that asking for an increase in my day rate is far from over-valuing myself and being money-grabbing, it’s just asking for what I’m worth fairly. And currently I’m under-valuing that and all that I contribute to the team. So it made me feel less guilty about asking for this, more like it’s necessary if I’m coming from a place of loving myself and knowing my worth.

I went over the amazing things I bring to the table:
– High quality writing skills:
– From 6 years at a major national newspaper training
– 1 year freelance
– And a 1st class Cambridge degree
– Ideas for features – that can bring in a younger audience and increase the diversity of the publication.
– Ideas for social content and contributing to the filming of these
– Proven media contacts for interview scoops (which have had a high measurable open rate in newsletters), feature ideas, and pushing out other income generating projects run by the magazine.
– Proven fast-learning website skills and in-depth knowledge of the new website we’ve been building.
– Super organised, keeping on top of different projects / including sales skills to get people on board a new one.
– I’m a great colleague! = a team player, willing to get stuck into everything, positive, a fast learner, can-do attitude…. always go over and above.

Then I did calculations about what my rate should be to reflect the pensions, national insurance, sick pay and holidays. And realised it was actually £100 more than I’m currently charging – if I allow for a slight raise from what I was on the last time I had a day rate on staff three years ago – which is more than I thought. I’d like to go in at this amount, knowing that it will probably be negotiated down, so giving wiggle room.

My boss is going to be away in the first 2 weeks of january and I’d like to use this time to do a big push on a specific income generating project that I’m part of to be able to add to my case. But then ask, in a sense of it being a new year, I’d like to keep working for them as a freelancer but please can we have a contribution about day rate? I would love to increase this as it’s not reflective of the contributions I make and my responsibilities etc.

However, I’m really not sure how to go about this conversation itself of asking for it? I notice that sometimes, I can know all of these things about what i’m worth / or my wins when it’s internal – but in conversation with someone else I have a tendancy to crumble, especially if they argue back with me.

Do you have any tips on framing this conversation and how to word it / or stay strong in the moment if she argues back?

Thanks so much

 

 

Answer:

First, notice what your brain is doing. You’ve calculated what you think is fair given your experience and what you bring. Then immediately your brain thinks you now have to prove it with another project. What if you could just sit with what you’ve got right now being enough? Use some energy to really lean into that belief as you prepare for the compensation conversation.  If you want to do another project, go for it. But check in with the emotion you want to use to create it.

Notice the way you are talking to yourself. Clean it up. This doesn’t have to be an argument at all if you are grounded in yourself. You know what to do. Trust yourself.