How to Become a Master Negotiator

For some people, being able to negotiate is second nature; however, for many others negotiation can seem far too intimidating. For example, studies show that women are especially hesitant to advocate for themselves when it comes to salary. Being able to negotiate helps you receive a higher salary, better benefits, and more job satisfaction. According to Forbes, these are the five habits every negotiator should practice:

 1. Ask for a discount.

Great negotiators are comfortable asking for more. Some people feel uncomfortable asking for a discount. They do not want to be seen as either frugal or greedy. Remember, you are the customer. It is your money. If you don’t ask for what you want, you won’t get what you want.

Ask your Internet provider for a discount if your Internet connection has been slow that month. Ask the airline agent if he will waive the phone transaction fee because their website was down. Ask your restaurant server what she can do for you after having brought you the wrong meal twice. And something doesn’t always have to go wrong to ask for a discount. Inquire about the membership discounts they might accept.

Get comfortable making “the ask.” The more comfortable you are asking for what you want and deserve in your everyday life, the easier it will be at work.

2. Speak with the manager.

Master negotiators are comfortable speaking with someone in authority. Whether you have criticism or praise, ask to speak with the manager. It could be the manager of the grocery store, your healthcare provider or the salon. Tell them what your issue is or share your positive experience. The more comfortable you feel speaking with someone in power, the easier it will feel speaking with someone in a position of power at work.

3. Say “No.”

Successful negotiators know their priorities. Sometimes you have to say “no” to surveys when you don’t have the time, to the retail stores trying to sell you a credit card when you don’t need one or even to a friend having a party at the same time that you have family in town. The more practice you have saying “no” outside of work, the easier it will be for you to say “no” at work. The ability to say “no” is critical to effectively negotiate your salary. Actress Jessica Chastain reminds us that when negotiating your salary, “The power of ‘no’ means you’re educating people in how to treat you.”

4. Play sports.

Master negotiations know their option B. When you play sports and are active with others, to win you must have in mind different ways of achieving your goal. Let’s say you are playing basketball, and you want to run a particular play. And then a defender steps into your path that renders your play ineffective. To get to the basket and score, you have to know and quickly execute your second best option.

When you are negotiating in the workplace, how you go about achieving your goal may not go as planned. You need to train yourself to think about alternatives and be able to transition to your backup plan quickly.

5. Travel.

Successful negotiators feel comfortable in unfamiliar situations. When you travel, particularly internationally, you find yourself in unfamiliar territory. Travel on your own instead of going on tours that are customized for your native culture. Gain experience interacting with the locals at the neighborhood market and on public transportation. People who put themselves in situations where they must adapt to their surroundings, compromise and problem-solve are better negotiators.

The ability to negotiate successfully at work is critical. It could mean the difference between career advancement and career paralysis. Use situations in your everyday life to hone your negotiation skills to be in top shape for when you need them in your career.