Happy Financial Literacy Month! This year KBK Wealth Connection is celebrating with a twist on the traditional theme. Instead of offering tips on mastering personal finance, we are focused on providing strategies for being a more confident negotiator. In that spirit, here are 5 things you need to know to improve your negotiation literacy.?
- Negotiating is a skill that is learned. No one is born a natural deal maker. Instead, master negotiators invest time and resources to learn how to read other people, communicate their value, and engage in financial conversations. It’s important to invest in your professional development and those that do have a higher success rate.?
- Negotiating isn’t a competition. Negotiations happen on a continuum from competitive to collaborative. If you are selling antiques at a market, then take the competitive, transactional approach. Otherwise, focus on being collaborative by finding a solution that works for you and the other person or party. This fosters trust, leads to repeat business and is much more conducive for selling professional services.?
- Negotiators have feelings. If you are human, you are going to have feelings come up when you are negotiating. The feelings aren’t bad, they just can’t be in the driver's seat. Instead of denying your emotions, learn to tolerate them and use them as part of your negotiation process.?
- Negotiations don’t all go your way. Rejection is part of negotiations and sales. It is vital to learn from each one of these experiences, and know that the more nos you get the closer you are getting to a yes.?
- Women are good negotiators. It is a myth that women are not as good at negotiating as men. Most women have emotional intelligence and curiosity, two wonderful traits in a negotiator. Let’s stop telling women what they can’t do and start letting them know what they are capable of.?
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Happy Negotiation Literacy Month!?
