Wednesday, June 26, 2013

9 Negotiation Tactics All Women Should Know

By Martin P S Collins


Try: Rather than seeking out opportunities to negotiate, many women tend just to accept the situation as it is. You should be aware that when it comes to business, almost anything can be negotiated - and all you have to do is try. Most negotiation tactics can be easily learned.

Be prepared: When you prepare yourself, you are much more likely to be confident and convincing. You should take your time to review costs, trends, statistics, or whatever else you need to look into before stepping in the door. This is quite useful in salary negotiations as well.

Consider your body language: Your words may be saying one thing, but your body language could just be saying something in the other direction. Your ability to keep direct contact with your eyes will give an indication of your level of engagement and focus. You should sit up and a maintain body language that shows that you have confidence and that you should be taken seriously.

Don't let your emotions control you: Women, by nature, tend to be much more emotional than men. Dirty negotiation tricks or bargaining tactics by your negotiation partner can unleash emotions such as unhappiness, anger, frustration, even disbelief, and it is vital that you stay relaxed and learn to keep such feelings aside. If you need to, request a quick break to regain your calm.

Expect and master criticism: If you're negotiating for a higher salary or position, it's highly possible that criticism may come your way. Issues regarding your tardiness, short work hours or even work ethic may come up, and so you should anticipate these scenarios and formulate your responses ahead of time. The last thing you want is to come up with the perfect answer as you're driving home.

Learn to say "no": Women don't like conflict and try to keep everyone happy. However, being liked shouldn't be your main concern in a negotiation. It's a good negotiation skill to know when to put your foot down and say "no".

Know when to be quiet: One of the most effective negotiation techniques is to stay quiet in the following situations: After you have made your offer, and when your counterpart answers. Don't even appear to be trying to soften the blow or back down on your initial offer.

Determine your worth: Women tend to underestimate themselves in the workplace. If you're dealing with salary negotiation, find out how much you truly deserve for all your efforts and hard work, whether as an employee, supplier, or contractor. If they truly value you, they will quite likely take you up on your offer. If they say no, thank them politely, walk away, and try to find someone who appreciates how much you're worth.

Don't change who you are: A good negotiation tip is to avoid the trap of trying on all sorts of bargaining styles that you are not comfortable with. When you merely put on an act, especially when you haggle price, you will be found out all too quickly. If you want to be successful in negotiations, remain true to your values.




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