By Kit Brown-Hoekstra | STC Fellow and Cindy Currie | STC Fellow
Ask a Tech Comm Manager is an advice column geared toward answering all those questions you have, but might be uncomfortable asking. We glean the questions from social media, forums, and most importantly, from you, dear reader. If we don’t know an answer, we will interview experts and get information for you. Send us your questions to kitbh.stc@gmail.com or tweet them to @kitcomgenesis or the hashtag #askTCmgr.
Dear TC Manager:
I’ve been asked to present to management about our projects. I’ve never done anything like this before! Help! How do I structure the presentation, and what should I focus on?
—Newbie Presenter
Dear Newbie Presenter:
The first thing to do is find out if your group or company has a standard template for this type of presentation. Most companies have these templates, and it will be your guide and structure for the content you need to provide. If a template does not exist, spend some time with the person who made the request and find out where they think you should focus.
Clearly identify the audience and purpose for the presentation. Are you presenting to your group, another group, supervisors and managers, or executive-level leaders? Their interests will be very different. Is this a status update presentation or something else, like a project methodology overview where you may need to discuss processes and tools?
Are they expecting cost estimates, metrics, or return-on-investment information? If so, you might need to do some research to make sure you have the most current data. Also, find out if this is a one-off request or something that you or others in your group will need to do regularly.
Dear TC Manager:
I have consistently gone above and beyond what’s asked of me, but have been overlooked for raises and promotions. How can I talk to my manager about this?
—Overlooked
Dear Overlooked:
I presume there is a formal performance review process in your company, and I recommend that you use that process, including setting performance goals against which you are measured, as the basis for a discussion with your manager.
Before meeting with your manager about this, make sure you do some research.
Be aware of the job description for your current role, and ask to see the job descriptions for the roles one and two levels higher than your current role, if these are not something you can access without assistance.
Ask for the salary ranges for each role as well. (This may be more difficult to gain access to, but you should be able to see your current salary range and very likely the range for one level above your current role.)
Compare the list of responsibilities of your current role to those of the role one level higher. Document how you think you are fulfilling the responsibilities now.
Read the annual report, and if your company is public, check the quarterly analyst reports. If your company’s stock price has tanked in the past quarter, now is not the time to ask for a raise. Alternatively, if you have contributed to a project that was a big win or stock prices are doing well, you will have better luck.
Identify nonmonetary things that you would be willing to receive instead of a raise. Managers often have more flexibility on things like vacation time, conferences or training, professional association dues, etc. than they do on raises.
You’re starting to build your business case for getting promoted. Be sure to use solid examples of your work that demonstrate your expertise and leadership. Once you’ve done this, set a meeting with your manager and start the discussion. Don’t complain about the past; it’s over.
Work with your manager to set your course for the future. Be clear that you want to advance to higher levels of responsibility and accountability and that you want to understand how to get there. Then ask for stretch goals that will move you forward as you achieve them, with regular checkpoints on progress.
Also ask about the criteria for raises in your company. Some companies use an annual bonus program as a way to compensate their employees and don’t give raises at all.
Dear TC Manager:
I just got offered a new job and am in the process of negotiating the package. I want them to cover my STC and other professional memberships. How do I negotiate this?
—Active STC member
Dear Active STC Member:
Everyone wants to know what’s in it for them, so frame your request by clearly identifying how your memberships in STC and other organizations will benefit your new company and make you a better employee. Be sure to use several good examples of how these memberships have provided benefit in the past. It’s always good to show that you are strongly motivated to bring your best to your job, and that includes self-directed learning, networking, and participation in professional organizations so that you can keep current, continue learning, and contribute to your profession beyond your immediate job.
If you will be working with a team of more than five technical communicators, consider telling your manager about the Corporate Value Program, which allows larger organizations to provide discounted memberships to their employees, and look into STC’s certification program, which can boost your credentials. Information on both programs can be found online at www.stc.org.
