✅ Try this when: You can’t understand someone’s opposition
✅ What you’ll discover: Valid concerns you’ve been overlooking
✅ ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and similar LLM tools can be used.
EXAMPLE:
Please role-play as [person who disagrees with you] and explain their perspective in a way that makes their position seem reasonable.
Alright, stepping into the manager’s shoes now:
“Hey, I want you to know I really value your work—you’ve been doing an excellent job. But about the raise… here’s where I’m coming from:
-
Budget constraints are real.
Even though you deserve it, the department’s budget for this year is tighter than I expected. Giving a raise now might force cuts elsewhere, and I don’t want to hurt other team members or critical projects. -
Timing and company policy.
Typically, raises are considered during our annual review cycle. If I approve it now, it sets a precedent that’s hard to sustain for others who are also expecting fair treatment. I want to be consistent and fair across the board. -
Performance metrics vs. compensation cycles.
While your work has been excellent, I also have to align raises with measurable performance milestones. I’d like to see one or two more key achievements before we make the adjustment, so that your raise reflects concrete results and not just perception. -
Strategic positioning.
Sometimes holding off slightly on a raise allows us to structure a more substantial increase later. It’s not about undervaluing you—it’s about positioning your compensation to grow faster and more sustainably in the near future.
So, from my perspective, saying “not right now” isn’t a reflection of your value—it’s about fairness, budget management, and long-term planning. I hope that makes sense.”
If you want, I can also role-play the next step where you respond persuasively so your manager sees the raise as reasonable now, without triggering defensiveness. That’s a subtle but effective approach.
Do you want me to do that?