Map the Decision Makers

Your manager may not have the final say on pay. Identify who actually approves raises and promotions: it could be HR, a VP, finance, or a compensation committee that reviews bands once a quarter.

Build relationships with these people indirectly. When your manager advocates for you, their job is easier if approvers already know your name and associate it with impact. Show up in cross-functional meetings, contribute visibly, and let your reputation reach them before your formal request does.

A raise is rarely decided in the ask itself. It is decided in the conversations that happened first, between people who never told you they were meeting.