How to Negotiate:
The 7 Keys You Need
When applying for a new job, you know to negotiate your salary but a less known fact is the need to negotiate at work once you get that job. Negotiation is one of the most important skills for any career or business professional because with it, comes the ability to influence decisions.
Given the importance of negotiating and negotiation skills, it is necessary to know how to negotiate to rip its benefits. Many people I have worked with and those who I have supervised, often come to me with complaints of being overlooked and undervalued because no one took suggestions seriously.
I have run into people who have felt their job skills were called into question because their suggestions and opinion were not considered. However, they were unable to gain ground on their proposals because they didn't know how to negotiate. The sad part was they also failed to recognize the opportunity to negotiate.
Suggested reading: How To Improve Your Confidence
Personal Benefits
Negotiation is not only important when you are trying to convince the powers that be of a deal, but it's also important when fighting for personal benefits to go your way. If you want to have better choices and you want to enjoy where you work, it is crucial to know how to negotiate.
There will always be differences of opinion anywhere you work. However, your ability to solve them will determine the experiences and the achievements you have as a professional. If you know how to negotiate, then the likelihood you get what you want increases. You will not feel like you are being ignored or overlooked.
How To Negotiate: The 7 keys You Need
1. Positive Attitude
No one likes to work with a grumpy, self-centered, and thin-skinned individual. A positive attitude is of great value when negotiating. Remember you want to convince the other party why they should go with your proposal.
When you have a positive attitude, it shows in your communication with the other party. You will be open and engaging which makes for a great environment to negotiate.
2. Confidence
Confidence is key in negotiations. Why should others believe in you if you aren't sure of yourself? When you demonstrate confidence, people see you as a competent, capable and trustworthy individual.
Confidence is not only how you feel about yourself, but also how you demonstrate your competence. Your Confidence makes your ideas and proposals more appealing to the other party.
Brian Amble, wrote in an article for Management Issues that if you lack confidence, you will be an ineffective negotiator.
Where's your confidence level now?
"If you are skilled and knowledgeable, then show it! That's confidence."
3. Preparation
Do your homework. Emotions alone without facts get you nothing. You must know how your request will impact your organization. Every organization, business owner or team make decisions based on what's best for them. Therefore, to increase your chances, you should try to think from the other party's perspective.
Even though you want to appeal to the emotions (emotions are involved in the decision-making process.), having facts adds credibility to your argument.
When negotiating for personal benefits, at the very least, you want to aim for a no loss to you if you agree to my proposal scenario. You want to demonstrate that there will be nothing lost if they go with your request.
Keep your audience in mind at all times. Know the language they speak so that you are in tune with how they comminicate.
Do not confuse complaints with suggestions. Complaints get you nothing, maybe sympathy at the most. On the contrary suggestions open doors for you.
4. Clear Outcomes
Outline the expected outcome including advantages and disadvantages. Based on your research, you should be clear on why your idea is worth considering. Be forthright about the negatives and explain how you will manage those scenarios.
It is important to state clearly the expected outcome even if negotiating for a personal benefit. For example, I know people who have negotiated for working four days a week as opposed to five days by showing that their productivity would remain the same and it would not affect the business negatively.
5. Build Relationships
If you want to know how to negotiate, then get to build relationships with the other people. Let it become a habit for you to connect with the people you do business with. When you get to business meetings, move around the room and establish connections. At work, build relationships with your colleagues.
Jeswald Salacuse, wrote in a blog published in Harvard Law School, Program on Negotiation describing the value of relationships in negotiations. Jeswald in this blog recommended forming personal connections and not just a few email exchanges.
Building relationships is not a superficial process. It requires sincerity and effort on our part.
6. Patience and Perseverance
Have an abundance of both because you'll need it. People can be annoying! You can't escape meeting with someone who is annoying or someone who has a completely different personality from you.
It's vital that you remain open. You should take into consideration the other person's point of view. Be patient when things aren't going the way you expect it too.
7. Move on
The ability to move on irrespective of the outcome of the negotiation is important for you, and for future collaborations.
Sometimes things will go your way but sometimes it won't. However, you want to learn from each situation, and then move on to future possibilities. Don't hate anyone for saying no to you. He or she has a right to accept or decline your proposals.
Last Word!
Knowing how to negotiate is a skill that makes it easier to have job satisfaction and to be successful at work. Every time you negotiate, you become better so Identify opportunities and begin to negotiate now!
Hello, I'm Oyinkan Akinmade and I'm a Professional Coach and Speaker. I help you take charge of your work so you are positioned to succeed. Feel free to connect with me on Instagram. You can read more about my story here.
Great article. I love numbers 3 & 7, because it is extremely important not to make an emotional decision, and also being able to move on in spite of the outcome, great tip.