Become a Better Negotiator

Most jobs involve negotiating, at least occasionally. Even if you don't officially solve disputes or hammer out contract details, you probably use negotiating skills in less obvious ways, such as getting team members to comprise on strategies for an important project or requesting better rates from a vendor.

But many people are not born negotiators. For women in particular, this can be a challenging skill to master. But there are ways that women (and anyone else) can become better negotiators, as this article suggests:

Practice, practice, practice. While negotiating is something that's often uncomfortable at first, it usually gets easier after a while. Before long, you might find that you actually enjoy flexing your negotiating muscles!

Imagine you are representing someone else. It can often be helpful to pretend you are negotiating on someone else's behalf. Women tend to be more forceful when they are advocating for another person.

Do some research. There are lots of online resources on this topic, such as this story that shares additional tips on becoming a better negotiator.  

Watch a pro in action. Chances are, there is someone in your office or professional circle whose negotiating skills are legendary. Try to find some opportunities to observe them in action, paying close attention to their strategies.

Do you think women have a tougher time negotiating? Have you found any good strategies to improving your negotiating skills? Share them in the comments

Image courtesy of buddawiggi