Keep These Negotiation Tactics Top of Mind

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As a leader, you need to be fluent in negotiation—even if you’re not currently sitting in the C-suite. Whether you’re negotiating the terms of a project, your next salary, or a corporate acquisition, here are some key principles to keep in mind.

  • Justify your offer. Negotiators who provide explanations for their proposals are more likely to reach agreements than those who don’t. Even if your offer is too low, a compelling, well-reasoned justification demonstrates to your counterpart that you’ve given considerable thought to your offer and that it’s well-informed.
  • Frame your proposal. The context surrounding an offer can influence its perceived value and, ultimately, the negotiation’s outcome. Don’t just say a big number—tell a compelling story.
  • Be prepared to assess “anchors.” A powerful tool in negotiation, anchors are the initial reference point that influences the perceived value of the thing being negotiated. Come prepared to assess whether an anchor price is too high or too low, or to set the right anchor price yourself.
  • Leave emotions at the door. Both overly positive and negative emotions could lead you to make irrational, counterproductive decisions (like overlooking risks, making aggressive demands, or making extreme offers that you can’t back up).
  • Negotiate process, not just price. Focus on setting ground rules for the deal, agreeing on a timeline, and establishing the roles and responsibilities of each party. When the process is negotiated in good faith and agreed upon by both sides, it can help establish a sense of fairness and transparency.

Enjoy the means…

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What if you can enjoy the means and don’t worry about the ends.

Most of our time goes in the means to the end. The “ends” specifically the successful ends are few and overrated. Because as soon as you get to a successful end you want another one.

So enjoy the means as much as you can!

Can there be a set path to success?

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To have a set path to success, there are a few things that should happen:

  1. The end goal should be constant i.e. for you and me the success end goal should be the same, but most of the time end goal changes, in fact, it changes almost as soon as you are closer to it.
  2. With the changes in our environment, our life, and our equation with other people, we are in a constant mode of evaluation, evaluating whether this is a successful state or not. Since this becomes a factor of the environment that keeps changing, it’s hard to define a fixed success path.
  3. You outgrow your success as soon as you attain it, imagine when you were younger, what was your dream? When I was in college my dream was to get a high-paying job, a really good high-class house or apartment, and a decent car, and then I am done. But as soon as I attended this, the need become more, it became greed..and more …and more…

There is only one way to have a fixed path to success and that is to change your mind, to change it to view success in small things, to view success in daily things, to view success in growth, to view success in learnings.

Choose a Career That Matches Your Personality…

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Don’t beat yourself up if you have the type of personality where you get easily bored or distracted. You’re not alone. And as long as you choose a job or career that matches your natural temperament, there’s no reason you can’t be successful. 

For example, you might consider entrepreneurship, a career path that provides lots of variety. From coming up with an idea, to finding the resources to turn that idea into action, to interact with customers or clients, there’s rarely time for boredom or routine. 

If you have difficulty switching off or disconnecting, you may want to consider a career in PR or media production. There’s never a dull moment in those jobs where you have to be prepared to react to news or learn how to communicate with very different audiences in a wide range of media. 

Another career if you want to avoid monotony and routine is consulting, where you regularly interact with new clients and take on novel problems. 

Your personality is an inherent part of who you are. Identifying a role that is a fit for your natural disposition will help you improve your job performance and maximize your career potential.

Use Microvalidations to Affirm Your Colleagues…

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Most of us are aware of microaggressions: subtle comments or acts of exclusion that can negatively impact the well-being of people who belong to historically marginalized groups. To go further than simply recognizing and avoiding microaggressions, try using micro validations: equally subtle but powerful actions or language that affirm and encourage your underrepresented colleagues.

  • Acknowledge people’s presence. Give a nod, a warm smile, or a greeting when your colleague enters a room or a virtual meeting. In many cultures, simply addressing someone by name and making eye contact signals positive regard. And when someone is speaking, give them your full attention—put your phone away, close your laptop, and listen.
  • Validate people’s identity. Refer to people in a way that’s in line with how they think of themselves. For example, call your colleagues by their preferred names. Don’t use unsolicited nicknames or anglicize names that are less common or difficult for you to pronounce. And respect people’s gender identities by being aware of—and using—their pronouns.
  • Voice your appreciation for people’s contributions. Share directly with your colleagues how they’ve made important contributions, influenced decision-making, or helped build a strong team culture. Thank people for challenging the status quo.
  • Hold people to high standards. Don’t shy away from assigning challenging work. Do provide the resources and developmental feedback people need to succeed.

How to Get Better at Asking for Help

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For many of us, asking for help is hard. Whether you’re afraid of feeling vulnerable, being rejected, or prefer to do things independently, you can take steps to overcome your reluctance to ask for help.

  • Seek out resources. Investigate your blockages and recognize the importance of getting over them. (Reading this tip could be a great first step!) But if you need further encouragement, technology has made it easier than ever to find the right coach or therapist.
  • Reframe your perception of help. Consider that asking someone for help isn’t burdening them, but giving them an opportunity to step up. Contributing to the success of the team is a win-win proposition.
  • Craft your request carefully. Ensure the help you ask for is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. This will increase the likelihood that your needs get met.
  • Communicate openly and authentically. The more people understand the problems you’re facing, the more equipped they’ll be to help you solve them.
  • Practice. Start small and see how it feels. Reach out to someone you’re super comfortable with, perhaps a family member or a trusted coworker, and ask for their help with something minor. You might be surprised by people’s willingness to lend a hand.

Showcase Your Accomplishments Without Bragging

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Success at work often depends on being — and being seen as — both competent and likable. You need people to notice your growth and accomplishments while also enjoying your company. But how do you showcase your work without coming across as a shameless self-promoter? Here are a few tips:

Share when others are sharing. The penalty for bragging seems to dissipate when others in the room are engaging in self-promotion.

Share when asked. Humility is admirable. But if someone requests information or an answer that requires you to reveal positives about yourself, you should oblige. Research indicates that when someone details an accomplishment in response to a direct question, others don’t judge that person as any less agreeable.

Find a promoter. Peers, bosses, mentors, and sponsors will likely be happy to speak up on your behalf if and when you ask them to.