Leadership in Real Life: Compensation Conversations

Typically, compensation conversations occur after annual performance reviews. Due to the timeliness of the topic (January 2025), I met with Nicole Matteson, HR leader and badass, to record a conversation about ways managers can prepare themselves and their teams for compensation and merit increase conversations.

Nicole and I talk about some of the challenges managers experience with these conversations, and talk about some ways to prepare (what information should you have ready) before addressing these discussions with your teams. (I'm sharing the Podia recording link and the YouTube because I'm not sure which one works better, yet).

Podia: https://authenticfoundations.podia.com/sg

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3AOfdJ62e8&t=235s

If you still need some help having these conversations after you've watch the video, I am including a link to my free, downloadable guide that contains examples of how to handle compensation conversations professionally and empathetically, especially when handling questions from employees around market average, peer compensation, or unmet expectations.

Happy Performance Evaluation and Merit Cycle Season, Folks!