Leadership Tip

How to overcome your reluctance to negotiate your salary

Negotiating your salary can reap huge long-term benefits. But most of us are reluctant to try. Here are some common excuses and how to overcome them:

  1. What if they get upset with me for asking? To avoid potential backlash, invest extra effort in how you ask. Let the other person know in advance that you wish to negotiate. Give them time to prepare, and meet in person, if possible.
     
  2. What if they say no? Stop thinking about how bad you’ll feel if you hear a no. Think instead about how good you’ll feel when you’ve initiated the conversation. That way you’ll be saving face if you have the conversation and losing face if you continue to avoid it.
     
  3. It’s not like me to ask. This is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Throw out this mental picture and replace it with an image of a person you can view as a negotiation role model.

The above leadership tip...
was sent in response to a question from a participant on our acclaimed 10/10 leadership development and mentoring programme and adapted from Overcome Your Reluctance and Start Negotiating Your Salary by Judith White. Whether you're a first time manager or an experienced leader, straightforward, practical advice on best practice is hard to find. Until now. To find out how you, your team or your organisation can benefit, please join us on our next complimentary webinar or contact us.


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