Negotiating Secrets You Need to Know
Negotiating is a fine art, as any successful person will tell you. To be able to get what you want in any negotiation, it’s crucial to arm yourself with these negotiating secrets.
1. Enter the Negotiation With a Win-Win Goal
Basically, don’t just look out for yourself. The other person will want something, too, and if you can figure out a solution where you each get something – a win-win scenario – you’ll be much more likely to be successful. In order to do this, listen carefully to determine what the other party wants, and think creatively to come up with a mutually beneficial solution.
2. Be Willing to Walk Away
Every negotiation is a power struggle. If you are willing to put up anything, lose everything, then the other party has all the power. You can hold equal power if you decide ahead of time that you’re willing to walk away from the negotiation if you don’t get what you want, or something close to it. To do this, have a minimum in mind that you’ll settle for. Anything less than that you have to be willing to walk.
3. Keep Something in Reserve
If the negotiation starts to get out of your control, you need to have something else you can bring to the table. Keep this something in reserve until you absolutely need it. If you bring it out at the right time, you should be able to win the negotiation right then and there. Examples include things like:
• Extra skills the other party didn’t know you had
• Willingness to work weekends
• Additional certifications or education the person was unaware of
• A list of clients you can bring with you if you’re hired
• Assets you own that you’re willing to make available to the company
The next time you’re at the negotiating table, use these tips to ensure you leave with a great job offer.