5 Things You Didn't Know About Negotiating Your Salary

 Negotiating your salary may be one of the best things you can do in your career...and your life. Most of us however are more than reluctant to approach our bosses and ask for that raise. Muovo has found the following article from Brazen Life insightful as it deals with 5 things that we should be are probably not very aware of when we're trying to negotiate our salaries.

1. Ask.
It's obvious, right? Negotiation is, first and foremost, a conversation. Your manager or boss however is probably perfectly happy with things as they are, so to start that conversation, YOU have to ask.

2. Not asking? You're leaving real money on the table.
We often don’t appreciate or be aware of, perhaps, of how much we might be leaving on the table over time by not asking or not asking for enough.

3. The process if often negotiated too.
Some workers don’t realize that getting to the negotiation may itself be a negotiation. Learn to recognize when higher-ups are negotiating the process. These are actually negotiation tactics—one of delay, the other of hurrying you. It’s important to remember that you can negotiate when you’ll negotiate. You can also respond to this tactic by asking for a more appropriate time for you. Similarly, for the brush-off, ask for a fixed date when you can meet.

4. Your boss hates negotiating too!
Approaching the conversation as a persuasion exercise and highlighting a win-win option—or at least showing it won’t hurt your manager—will make the process easier for your boss, which means it’s easier for you, too.

5. It doesn't have to be only about money.
We tend to focus on asking for a higher salary or a bonus and may miss asking for other perks that can be helpful in our career and life. Would additional (paid for) training or courses help you on to greater opportunities? Would flex time or telecommuting allow you to spend more time on non-work interests or obligations? How about more vacation? What about taking on a different role or getting to do something you’ve always wanted to try?

Good luck! Let us know of your experiences!

Nikita Pisani at Muovo