Asking for more can translate to a bunch of different things, but for most of the people I talk to, asking for more frequently involves money as a form of advocating for your worth: negotiating salaries, working toward bonuses, asking for a raise, and confirming the right combination of favorable benefits. And these conversations are some of the hardest to navigate.
It’s only recently in my career that I’ve pushed myself to not only discuss pay with friends, coworkers, clients, and employers but also become more comfortable being my own spokesperson for what I think I deserve. For example, I spent the first year of freelance writing thrilled with whatever anyone would pay me, if they paid me anything at all. As I gained more experience, I started to realize that I could ask for more money—or at least identify the income I needed to receive in order to match the value of the time spent on these assignments.
Would that approach have worked if I didn’t have the skill and years of experience to back it up? Of course not—it’s important to be mindful and realistic regarding what you think you deserve; pick your battles and meet people halfway. But advocating for your worth at work, whether that involves pay, schedule, or responsibilities, is how you can slowly get comfortable with asking for more in general.