Negotiation skills are an essential part of almost any job. You may not realise it at first, but whenever you ask for a raise or a promotion, negotiate your lease renewal or any other deal with your landlord, or even interview for a job, you’re making use of negotiation skills. Negotiation is essentially the process of coming to an agreement with someone on something where they have some control over what you get. Negotiation can be as simple as asking for a favor or as complex as negotiating a contract with many moving parts and lots of small details. However, effective negotiation requires preparation and an understanding of the other person’s motivations and concerns. These tips will help you prepare for every negotiation scenario so that you can get what you want every time.
Know Your Goals #
Before you can even think about negotiating, you need to know what your goals are. This is an especially important consideration if you’re negotiating a job offer. This will help inform your strategy and give you a strong sense of how far you’re willing to go to get what you want. You’re more likely to walk away with a successful outcome if you have a strong sense of what you want out of the deal. For example, if your top priority is getting a good salary and you know that the company has strict hiring budgets, you may be able to negotiate for a higher salary by offering to take a lower salary and/or offering to start part-time instead of full-time. If your top priority is to find a job that’s a great fit for you, you’d likely be less willing to budge on your demands.
Know Your Limiting Factors #
Before you head into any negotiation, you should also know your limiting factors. These are the circumstances that are out of your control, but that will also have an effect on your ability to negotiate. This is especially important if you’re negotiating a job offer. These may include the fact that you’re applying for a job in a competitive field or the fact that you’re currently unemployed and have few other options. These are the factors that can help you decide how far you’re willing to go to get the terms you want. For example, let’s say you’re negotiating a job offer and you know that the hiring manager is under a lot of pressure to fill the position quickly. You may be able to leverage that by offering to work part-time during your first few months. You may not have been able to negotiate that under normal circumstances.
Do Your Research #
Negotiations are much more than just posturing and throwing out your best offer. To be effective, you need to do your research. You should know the company you’re negotiating with inside and out. You should know their needs, their goals, and what they want to get out of the deal as much as you know what you want to get out of it. This will help you understand where the other person is coming from and give you a good idea of how flexible they’ll be. It will also help you identify areas where you may be able to compromise. You’ll also be more confident and comfortable throughout the entire process because you’ll know what you’re talking about.
Be Clear and Firm #
When the time comes to actually negotiate, you want to be as firm and clear as possible. You should have a strong sense of what you want out of the deal, but you should also be respectful of the other person’s needs. You should also understand that the other person is likely being equally respectful of your needs. You’re both trying to find a middle ground that works for everyone. A big part of being clear and firm is learning to say “no.” You may encounter a situation where someone tries to take advantage of you or tries to get something out of you that you’re not comfortable giving. In those cases, you should learn how to clearly and firmly shut down the other person.
Don’t Forget to Breathe #
Negotiations can be stressful and they’re truly an art form. The ability to stay calm in the midst of all that pressure is essential, but it can be hard to do. If you find yourself getting flustered, it’s important to remember to take a deep breath. Taking a moment to collect yourself can help you get back on track and get you back in the right headspace so that you can make the best possible deal for yourself. This is especially important if things aren’t going as smoothly as you’d like. You don’t want to become flustered and walk away from the deal. Taking a moment to collect yourself can give you time to regroup and get your bearings.
Don’t Be Afraid To Walk Away #
It’s important to note that you do have the power to walk away from any negotiation at any time. No one can force you to accept an offer in a negotiation. This doesn’t mean that you should walk away from every negotiation the first time you don’t like what they’re offering. In fact, you may want to walk away from certain negotiations at certain points. If you aren’t getting what you want or if the other person isn’t being reasonable, you don’t have to stay and negotiate. You shouldn’t walk away from every negotiation just because you can. You should only walk away when it feels right for you.
Bottom line #
Negotiating is a skill that will help you get more out of every aspect of your life. Whether you’re negotiating a job offer or a lease renewal, you can do better by putting these tips into action. Negotiation is a skill that can help you save money and get a better outcome out of any deal. Whether you’re negotiating a job offer or lease renewal, you can do better by putting these tips into action. Negotiation is a skill that can help you save money and get a better outcome out of any deal.