👋🏻 Jacob here.
As an executive, you know that negotiation is a crucial skill that can make or break your career.
Whether you’re advocating for a well-deserved raise, closing a major deal, or navigating everyday challenges, your ability to negotiate effectively can be the difference between success and stagnation.
Here are a few strategies to keep in mind this week:
- Know your worth: Before entering any negotiation, take the time to assess your unique value and the impact you bring. Confidence in your worth is a powerful negotiation tool.
- Forget your worth: Knowing that you’re valuable is essential — but being overly reliant on what you think your value is can be a mistake. Never be so sure of what you’re worth that you wouldn’t accept more — spend more time creatively exploring what more can look like for everyone.
- Do your homework: Research the other party, understand their needs and pain points, and identify areas to create more significant outcomes. The more informed you are, the better equipped you’ll be to negotiate successfully.
- Master the art of active listening: Negotiations aren’t about talking; they’re about listening carefully to the other party, asking thoughtful questions, and identifying opportunities for collaboration. Remember that most negotiators’ real motivators are not visible on the surface.
- Embrace creative problem-solving: When negotiations get tough, getting stuck in a zero-sum mindset is easy. But the most successful negotiators are the ones who can think outside the box and find creative solutions that can be framed as mutually beneficial.
- Stay cool under pressure: Negotiations can be stressful, but letting your emotions get the best of you is a surefire way to sabotage your success. Practice staying calm, focused, and objective, even in the face of adversity. Don’t rush.
Mastering the art of negotiation takes patience. By embracing these strategies and continually honing your skills, you can become a more confident, effective negotiator and take your career to new heights.
Stay fearless, friends.
See you next week.