What can I do to earn a raise in the next six months?
'Meritare' = me-ri-TA-re; stress on the third syllable.
Use when a raise is declined but you want to get specific, actionable criteria for future success. This turns a 'no' into a development plan.
'Cosa posso fare per meritare?' (What can I do to deserve/earn?) is proactive and growth-oriented. It asks the manager to invest in defining your path, which creates a psychological commitment. Write down the answer and follow up in six months.
Quali obiettivi devo raggiungere per ricevere un adeguamento?
What objectives must I achieve to receive an adjustment?
Objective-based; most actionable version
Mi può indicare un percorso chiaro verso un aumento?
Can you indicate a clear path towards a raise?
'Percorso chiaro' = clear path; strong signal of commitment
Possiamo definire insieme i criteri per la prossima revisione?
Can we define together the criteria for the next review?
Collaborative approach; invites joint ownership
Italian managers are often more comfortable giving feedback in the form of 'what to do' rather than 'what you did wrong'. Framing the follow-up as a forward-looking question plays to this cultural strength.