7. Practice Your Pitch and Anticipate Questions

Don’t ever go in a meeting without preparing beforehand. Don’t write a whole script, but you should know how to start the discussion as well as points you want to make along the way.

You know your manager better than we do, so you should anticipate questions. Ask a friend to help you out with a role-playing session. First you should do your part, then you should switch. What kind of questions would you ask yourself if you wanted a promotion? What is your boss most interested in?

With that out of the way, it’ll be easier to face them and you won’t be as nervous, nor will you feel underprepared.