Secrets to Negotiating With Men
Understand What you Want and Why
Ditch the emotions
Perhaps the reason women aren't as effective at negotiating as men are lies with the fact that they are simply much more emotional. In business, men have the reputation, the stereotype, of being unemotional. And while this may seem harsh, it may be why they generally come out on top in negotiations. Women on the other hand, want to be friends first, build relationships and think about business later and yet often still expect others to put them first in business, which doesn't happen. It’s always business first.
Don’t sacrifice ground
Women also have a tendency to sacrifice things and settle, expecting the other person to be as fair and caring as they are. And when it doesn’t work out, they end up resenting themselves and the other person because it didn’t turn out the way they expected it to. But, all these things can be avoided. As a woman, you just have to adjust your mindset. And the first thing you should do is STOP being so emotional, and put business first because that’s what negotiation is.
Know what you want
To be properly strategic in negotiating with men, you need to know and understand what it is you want and why. You also need to be able to show the other side what is in it for them, so make sure that you do. Know your value and why you deserve what you’re negotiating for, because if you don’t believe in yourself and don’t have evidence to back yourself up, then the other person will get the better of you in the negotiation.
Self Promotion
A factor that is too often ignored is self-promoting. This will help you a great deal in business, allowing men to know what it is you do and what you’ve achieved. Otherwise, when you’re trying to negotiate with a man, he isn’t going to know who you are, what it is you do, or how well you do it. It seems as though women don’t like to self-promote, even seeing it as a distasteful exercise. But you need to show people, especially men that you are succeeding in whatever you’re doing. As a result more people see your success, and the more perceived value there is on your personal brand.
Bluffing it
A big part in negotiating is knowing when and how to bluff a situation, an ability that men were pretty much born with. Women? Not so much. Now don’t think that the idea of bluffing it is, ‘Fake it till you make it’… it’s not! The idea is that you know you can do the job and say to someone, man or woman, ‘Give me this opportunity, I can do it.’ Bluffing it is all about have the confidence that you can deliver on whatever it is that you’re selling, because that’s what people want to see, they want someone who is sure of themselves and can back up what they’re saying.
Saying no and calling their bluff
Then there is the power of the word ‘no.’ You need to remember negotiation is a two-way street, if you feel like what you’re being offered is too low, reject it. In fact, speaking from personal experience, if you accept an offer that isn’t reflective of your worth you could actually be devaluing your brand, and men won’t think as highly of you because you buckled quickly. You need to stand your ground and remember, ‘no’ is not a dirty word, and could very well become one of your best weapons in the business of men.
Read the full article at: thebusinesswomanmedia
Patty Block, President and Founder of The Block Group, established her company to advocate for women-owned businesses, helping them position their companies for strategic growth. Charting the course for impactful, sustainable, profitable businesses, the beacon is control: of your strategic direction, your money, your time, your staffing, and your ability to bring in business. The Block Group brings together the people, resources and ideas that build results.
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