7 negotiation skills during your salary increase conversation

While we all have to negotiate at some point in our lives, most of us just get on with it. Do you want to switch jobs soon or ask for a salary increase? Then approach the next negotiation differently and focus on developing these necessary skills.

They come in handy not only during a negotiation, but also when you submit another request to your employer. For example, if you want more responsibilities. Or if you want to keep working from home when we can go back to the office at some point.

Skills you need in a negotiation

If you start developing these skills now, they will benefit you for the rest of your life. Also follow this practical step- by-step plan to become better at negotiating.

1. Listen well

We are often so nervous and know so well what we want to say that we completely forget to listen to our supervisor or HR manager. But only when you know what the other person is saying, you can respond to it with your arguments.

For example, take a break when the other person has spoken (a silence is also a power move ) or repeat the words you just heard. This gives your brain some time to process what has just been said.

2. Problem-solving thinking

Most people accept it when their boss says a raise isn’t possible, but forget that negotiating isn’t just about the salary. If you can think in a problem-solving way, you see a ‘no’ as the start of a negotiation.

There are also a lot of fringe benefits that you can negotiate, such as extra vacation days. Or how about new responsibilities?

3. Schedule

We probably don’t have to tell you that good preparation for a negotiation is important. But have you also thought about what to do if plan A doesn’t go the way you expect? The best negotiators start a conversation with at least one backup plan, but often they have more up their sleeve. Be prepared for any possible outcome.

4. Reading and mastering body language

Being able to read body language helps you understand what the other person is thinking or feeling. If the other party is crossing their arms, it is often not a good sign. Conversely, controlling your body language is also an important skill.

Successful negotiation is more than just saying the right thing. A smile, nodding, no wiggling your feet or touching your face, body language is important. Think about it in advance, but again don’t make it an act.

5. Emotional Intelligence

But a good negotiator can read more than just body language. He can recognize the emotions of others and also control his own emotions. Not happy with how a negotiation is going? Then indicate that you need a break so that you can come back calm and focused.

Emotions are part of negotiating, but you can also make them work for you. For example, positive emotions have been shown to increase feelings of trust at the negotiating table.

6. Persuasiveness

People often mistakenly think that a negotiation is hard against hard. But when you enter a conversation with an attitude of ‘this is my limit and no further’, you are not negotiating, you are simply demanding.

That’s where persuasion comes in. You want to make it as easy as possible for the other person to say yes. You do this by presenting good arguments, but also by ensuring that the negotiation is a win for both parties .

7. Interpersonal Skills

After all, the best negotiators can maintain good relationships. Remember that you are not opponents of each other. When the negotiation is over, you still want to be able to work together, without the tension from what happened during the negotiation.