Negotiation, like many other parts of life, is something we need to know in order the get what we want. Want a raise at work? Negotiate. Want to have pizza for dinner? Negotiate. Want the bigger dorm room? Negotiate. You are your best advocate and knowing how to negotiate can make you an even more successful in achieving your goals.
What do I want?
When entering a negotiation, there are a few things you should know and prepare for. First and foremost, know what you want. If you have a clear understanding of what you want, it may be easier to negotiate towards it. In knowing what you want, it is important to have done your research on the topic. If you are negotiating a raise, look at comparable positions in your company and others in the same field and city. Providing facts and figures to back up your request shows that you feel strongly about your it and have spent time and effort in your decision.
Practice, practice, practice
Much like any skill, negotiation requires practice. For instance, those who are expert negotiators likely have years and years of practice. They may negotiate professionally or negotiate often enough to have picked up the necessary skills. That is to say start with small things, picking dinner or a movie to watch, and build your skills in practice and lower stakes settings. You may find that you are a natural, but you also may find that you need more practice. Then commit to your cause but have alternate options in mind. For example, when asking for a raise you may request a 10% increase. But would you be happy with a 5% increase? A 7% increase and an annual bonus or stock options? Where do you draw the line and walk away from the negotiation, and what does that look like? Looking forward and planning for all of the potential outcomes will help make your decision easier when it comes down to it.
You can do it!
Lastly, it is important to stay confident. That is to say, believe in yourself and your decision. If you can’t figure it out on your own, there are professionals (like us) to help guide you. You are still strong and valuable if you ask for help.
Also, test your negotiation skills: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/tests/career/negotiation-skills-test
Feel free to also check out our blog posts on learning new skills and challenging thinking.
References:
Goodman, B. (2007, January 1). The Art of Negotiation. Retrieved from
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/articles/200701/the-art-negotiation
Halvorson, H. G. (2013, June 18). The 1-Minute Trick to Negotiating Like a Boss. Retrieved from
Nemko, M. (2014, June 6). The Psychology of Negotiating. Retrieved from
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/how-do-life/201406/the-psychology-negotiating
Tsipursky, G. (2019, November 29). How to Win at Negotiations. Retrieved from
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/intentional-insights/201911/how-win-negotiations
