6 Ways a Negotiation Coach Can Benefit You
Written by WIN Staff
Many people exhibit anxiety or feel overwhelmed when thinking about negotiation. Our emotions around negotiations play a large role in how we deal with them and if we are afraid of speaking up or facing a confrontational conversation, we will feel increasingly negative emotions around negotiating.
A little over 35% of women we surveyed said they disliked negotiating. Women would prefer to leave a job in order to get a higher salary rather than asking for a raise and 60% have never negotiated a raise, reports Randstand USA. The apprehension to negotiate leads to as much as $1.5 million in lost income over the span of a woman’s career.
At its core, negotiation is simply coming to an agreement through discussion and settlement of terms. Negotiations are conversations that happen on a daily basis, far outside the confines of an annual salary review.
One thing many of the top performing professionals, athletes, and business people have in common is a support system. Most know that in order to optimize their performance they need to recruit a professional, aka a coach, to help them overcome obstacles, serve as a sounding board, and guide them towards improvement.
Although a negotiation coach is similar to a business coach in both importance and guidance, the reasons why you would seek out one over the other are different. Outlined below are 6 top reasons you might need a negotiation coach and how their guidance can benefit your overall career and personal life.
1. You are letting fear hold you back
As humans, we are afraid of the unknown. When you are uncomfortable with the process of negotiating, it can be extremely intimidating. If you find that you are overwhelmed by the thought of an upcoming salary negotiation, or don’t allow yourself to stand your ground when trying to assert your needs because of the fear of push back, or of the ‘no,’ your inner fears are holding you back.
A WIN negotiation coach will help you feel comfortable with the strategies that go into critical conversations or negotiations. They will lead you to understand, articulate, and persuade others of your value, in a way that feels natural and comfortable for you. They will help transform the way you think about your fears and shift your perspectives to stop focusing on the limitations and start focusing on the possibilities.
2. You want to become more decisive
We could all use the reminder during these uncertain times, that not making a decision is a decision too… and often not the one you want. But we acknowledge that it’s difficult to make a decision when we feel we don’t have ALL the information we need. A WIN negotiation coach will help you determine the right questions to ask to feel as if you have access to the information you need in order to move forward with a decision. Their mentorship will help you gain clarity to your “what” as well as your “why”. They will share the key strategies that will help you assess risk and assert yourself. Understanding and practicing these strategies boost your confidence and make you a more proactive decision-maker.
3. You want to better articulate your needs
Perhaps you have already identified that your needs are. But if you are unable to express those needs in a way that is clear and makes sense to your counterparty, then the conversation will not have the most desirable outcome. Knowing how to communicate what you need is a crucial component to getting your needs met. Women face the stigma of coming across as “needy” in both the business world as well as in our personal lives. A WIN negotiation coach will help you gain a clear understanding of what your “non-negotiables” are which will better empower you in your difficult conversations.
4. You want to release limiting beliefs
A limiting belief is a state of mind or a conviction that you think to be true that is not serving you or leading you towards success. It limits you in your interactions with others and can have a number of other negative effects. Combating these negative thoughts takes time, practice, and proper mentoring. A WIN Coach can help you identify your limiting beliefs, think differently, and offer guidance on how to reshape and reform these thoughts into expanding beliefs that help you claim your true value.
5. You want to overcome interpersonal resistance
Women face more resistance when negotiating. Bias affects how women are viewed when they lean in, and although completely unfair, it is worth understanding the bias that exists and how to use it to your advantage. When power-plays such as dismissing ideas or questioning competence create resistance, they can make it difficult for us to advance in our negotiation goals. WIN negotiation coaches will help you identify these challenges, and how to break through the resistance barrier to keep you from becoming discouraged.
6. You are facing a transition
If you are currently changing jobs, looking to transition to a new industry, or facing some other life transformation, a WIN negotiation coach can offer valuable insight on how to negotiate on your terms and sift through the feeling of displacement or discord. Leaping into a new industry or job can be daunting but with the proper coaching, you’ll have the confidence to take the risk. Negotiation coaching will help you identify your strengths and help you leverage them for new opportunities.
If any (or all) of areas resonate with you, you might want to seek out the support of a negotiation coach. Negotiation workshops and training are generalized and meant for a broader audience. Your coach will help you build a strategy around your specific needs. WIN negotiation coaches break down how to approach negotiations, support you in reframing your mindset, and provide tools to break down these conversations further to help you close with a win-win.
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