Most people find that negotiating salaries is a daunting task. It can be intimidating and uncomfortable to sit down with the boss and talk money. But inaction will accomplish nothing and you may miss out on an opportunity to increase your income. With a little preparation and a can-do attitude, negotiating your salary doesn't have to be such a scary experience. Here are five tips that can help make the outcome successful.

Research Your Worth

Before salary negotiation, do a career evaluation, to assess your market worth. Your market worth is what you should be making for your skillset, competency level and industry. You can assess your worth by talking with your recruiter or by visiting websites like Salary.com.

Show Proof of Your Performance

Just thinking that you deserve a higher salary isn't enough. Present evidence of your accomplishments to help convince management that you are an employee well-worth retaining. Keep a list of successfully completed projects and positive feedback from customers and co-workers alike. Try to quantify evidence as much as possible since managers take hard numbers more seriously.

Consider Other Perks and Benefits

Don't just limit yourself to a monetary increase. Other types of compensation are just as attractive. Perhaps you would like additional vacation time or a flexible schedule in order to focus on the family more. Or if you have been thinking about going back to school perhaps the company has a tuition reimbursement program that you qualify for. Don't pigeonhole yourself into only considering the dollar signs because you may walk away with nothing.

Keep it Professional

Stay level-headed during the discussion. Don't dominate the conversation and do more listening. Avoid mentioning personal reasons why you need the money. And no matter what the outcome, be sure to thank your boss for her time.

Practice Makes Perfect

Prepare what you will say beforehand. Nerves can certainly affect how you come across, but if you practice ahead of time and role-play possible directions the conversation might take, you will feel more confident. Be sure to rehearse your opening statement out-loud and make sure that it starts the conversation off on the right foot.