Negotiation is a tough process because you need to juggle getting what you want (and deserve) without damaging the future relationship with your employer and — worse case — having them withdraw your offer. Maryanne Wegerbauer provides “positive negotiation techniques” for respectfully reaching a compromise both parties can be happy with.
Here are a few of her tricks:
- Adapt to your audience — Figure out who you will be negotiating with, and try a communication style that will work best with that individual.
- Focus long term — If you will be working with this person, don’t jeopardize the relationship now… Instead, appear open to compromise and willing to negotiate, not just set your wants in stone.
- Convey trust — Show them that you are committed to the company and to getting results. You are competent and experienced but show them you genuinely want to reach an agreement.
- Think about it — If no compromise is reached in the first session, that’s ok… Go home, think about the conversation and maybe a later follow-up conversation will reach a different conclusion.