One of the most common complaints I heard from employees while working in HR was regarding compensation. Everyone wants a raise, regardless of whether they make $25,000 or $250,000. And the two most common reasons were: they felt they deserved more or they needed (or wanted) more to pay for something.

Last week, we discussed needing more money and how to find it without a raise. This week, we will look at deserving more money and how to get it.

ABC's of raises

Employees tend to fall into two categories: those who ask for raises all the time and those who never do. While the first group can be annoying, they are also a lot more likely to get a raise than their counterparts who never ask.

If you truly believe you deserve more money — whether you have never asked for a raise or are used to asking all the time — you can increase the likelihood you will get it by taking these steps.

Ask: Telling, whining, emailing or leaving a voicemail are not the most effective ways to ask for a raise. Schedule a meeting and talk with your boss. Consider the best time of the year, quarter, week and day before doing so. Make it clear what you want to discuss, and ask if the proposed time and topic work. Ambushing your boss at the end of the day when she is working on the budget will not help your argument.

Be prepared: Go ahead and quote Salary.com, but try to add in some real data about where you work and what you do. Does it make sense for you to make more than your teammates? Why? Institutional knowledge, education and accomplishments are all legitimate reasons to be on the high end of the salary range; be ready to highlight them and directly connect them to the success of your boss, the department and the company.

Compromise: Cheers to you if you propose an amount that is immediately accepted. It may be that you argued wonderfully — or that your proposal was lower than what your boss had already budgeted. To avoid leaving any money on the table, ask your boss what she thinks a fair range is for your raise, then be prepared to argue and compromise in or close to that range. It can also help to be open to other options — like stock options, an increase to the 401k match or time off. Approach it like you are negotiating a new job offer and be open to creative compromise.

Next steps

Do everything right and still not happy with the result? Try revisiting the ABC's:

Ask again: Once an amount has been determined, ask your boss how likely it is you will ever make the amount you were seeking. If she says it is possible, ask her what you would need to do (and what would have to happen outside of your sphere of influence) for you to reach your salary goals.

Be prepared: Armed with the knowledge of whether and how you can get the raise you want, write it all down and recap it with your boss. Ensure you are both on the same page regarding next steps and the associated timeline.

Compromise: Working without the money you believe you deserve can be at best demotivating and at worst stressful. Asking for more money and being told no can make it even worse. A couple of weeks after the final follow up with your boss, check in with yourself. Have you gained some perspective, or are you still as angry and frustrated as you were before you started the process? If you are still unhappy, it may be necessary to compromise your expectations or consider seeking another job.