For the vast majority of people and cases, it really is that simple - but like I already said, "the process doesn’t have to be transparent, or consistent, or fair - in-fact it rarely is". There are exceptions to every rule, but for most people, it really does come down to some self reflection:

1. Do I consistently deliver more (in output, impact, or reliability) than peers at my pay level?

2. Is my work visible and tied to meaningful business outcomes, rather than low-impact tasks?

3. Am I known as dependable and easy to work with, especially under pressure?

4. Would the company feel a real loss-operationally or financially-if I left?

5. Have I made myself clearly more valuable to the organization than what I currently cost?