10 Reasons Why You Should Attend WIN Summit
By: Neferteri Plessy, Founder Single Moms Planet, Inc. & Elevated Strategist
I knew what I wanted. But my palms were sweating from just the thought of actually asking for it. The room grew quiet and cold. My eyes shifted to the nearest exit - straight into average land where female executive salaries go to die. Out there I could see the shadow of the money I never collected, the partnership that never got its proper start, the business that never got funded, the downpayment on the new home that I never saved all because I didn’t know how to ask for my value. I could play it small, keep my mouth shut and pray someone would see my worth and want to pay me for it. But my experience made me certain that would just leave me with a five-figure salary and a bank account I could never keep above $10,000 in savings.
When people talk about the “art of negotiation”, what you hear is very often a tall tale told like a bad joke on Christmas day. Full of excitement. Yet lacking the one key element that matters the most, which is that the result is rarely to end up with 100% of what you want. Effective negotiation is a give-and-take, not a zero-sum game. And doing it well takes patience, practice, and a lot of empathy for the person sitting across the table.
In that moment I couldn’t just tell the executives seated around the table what I wanted. I needed to marshall all the skills I had to show them why what I wanted was also what was best for them.
Over the course of my career, I have met hundreds of women who struggled to ask for what she’s worth.
The gender pay gap has been talked about ad nauseum over the last decade or so. In 2020, women made just 84% of what their male counterparts earned. Though women are beginning to change that. For women aged 25-34, the gap shrunk to 93%.
More women have become indispensable business and academic leaders than at any time in recent memory. And they’ve done it by working tirelessly to develop skills and leverage assets that bring true value to their organizations and their communities. One of those skills is the ability to be a powerful and effective negotiator.
ADD HOW I WAS AMAZED WHEN I SOUGHT OUT THE SUPPORT AND HELP I NEEDED TO ASK FOR MY WORTH AND NEGOTIATE LIKE A BOSS.
Women In Negotiation (WIN), is a premier female-focused negotiation skills development organization that has played a decisive role in empowering women to discover new ways to harness their unique strengths, elevate their talents, leverage their value, and better advocate for both themselves and their companies.
This year WIN will be holding its sixth annual summit. And for the first time, members will be able to attend virtually.
This unique negotiation-focused summit provides professional women with evidence-based training sessions, interactive workshops, panel discussions, inspirational keynotes, immersive exhibitor halls, one-on-one coaching, and CLE and SHRM credits for legal and HR professionals.
To let women learn more about WIN Summit and do my part to advance the interests of women in negotiation, I decided to focus on the top 10 reasons you should attend “WIN Summit”. I wanted this article to not only feature my point of view but also highlight the voice of the powerful women in my circle that are at the top of the game in their respective fields so I interviewed 11 of them. These 11 women are on the front line of negotiating for life, love and financial success not only for themselves but for all women everywhere.
I asked each of these women to talk about a negotiation skill or strategy that has helped them in their impressive careers and in their personal lives.
Here is what they had to say:
1. HAVING A STRONG COMMUNITY
Why is it important to gain access to a strong community of successful and talented women?
“Having access to a strong community of successful and talented women is a game-changer in business because it compounds one's individual experiences of success.
It can be isolating as a woman in business, and community support is truly the missing ingredient to reach new heights of success.
Whether it's seeking new employment or looking to uplevel one's income, we are taught that we have to do it all alone. But the pathway to true success and empowerment comes from seeking out feedback, support, new perspectives, and networking with trusted and talented women.” - Megan Barella, Founder of Happy Home
2. DEVELOPING CRITICAL THINKING
How can women improve their critical thinking and reasoning skills through the art of negotiation?
“So much of negotiation is having an insight into the motivations of the other side. You need to mentally sit in their shoes as part of formulating your own strategy, before presenting anything. When you anticipate the needs or wants of the other side, you can fashion an offer that won’t offend them, yet not undercut your needs and wants too. When people can see how they can ‘win’ something in what you are proposing, they are more likely to agree even if giving in on something else.” - Esse Tuke, Esq. Attorney and Counselor at Law
“Women can improve their critical thinking and reasoning skills through negotiation by first coming to the table with your goal in mind and what you personally are willing to compromise. Do your research in advance, if it's salary, find out what comparable jobs are making. Activate your listening skills to assess the other person's reasoning. Always clarify and ask questions using the basics of what, when and how?” - Desiree Shank, Senior Program Manager at Shopify
3. THE POWER OF NEGOTIATION
Why is learning the power of negotiation an important tool for women?
“As a woman, negotiating can be intimidating when confronted with the reality of being looked-over or underpaid. However, having the tools to negotiate provides a level of confidence and gives women the ability to request more favorable terms to satisfy her true worth.
Unfortunately, when women are not equipped to negotiate or fail to negotiate effectively, it can seriously impact our business and our careers. WIN makes a mark for all women in the workplace, helping them advance while preventing women from being devalued.
As a business owner, the power of negotiation is important because it builds a strong foundation to set our own terms.” - Cole Patterson, CEO of Cole Skincare for Men
4. UNDERSTANDING YOUR VALUE
Understanding your value and what you bring to the table is key in any negotiation. How can prioritizing proper training make an impact for women in business or in the workplace?
“Women aren't taught to negotiate, we are taught to take what’s given. Our male counterparts have been brought up to not accept the first offer, not accept no for an answer and to exaggerate their worth. It's important for women to practice these skills, so when they are given an opportunity it comes naturally, you need the proper training to cancel out all the societal noise and to own your value.” - Jade Kearney, CEO of She Matters
5. CREATING A WIN-WIN SCENARIO
Can you share a time when you created a win-win scenario while negotiating a business deal with a partner or employer?
“I remember when I was about to launch my first collection in Mercedes-Benz Australian Fashion Week back in 2007. I was picked to be one of the 12 New Generation designers out of 320 candidates. The problem was, I couldn’t afford the participation fees so I picked up the yellow pages and called companies. After hundreds of calls, Colgate-Palmolive agreed to cover my show fee of $10,000.00 if I promoted their fabric conditioner to be my official partner in garment care. We reached an agreement and both our companies were able to showcase our brand on a world-class stage.
This experience taught me the importance of give and take, whether in business or my personal life. It also taught me the importance of collaborations between two entities to achieve one common goal and promote awareness.” - Pia Gladys Perey, Founder and Creative Director of PIA Gladys Perey Label
6. BETTER PAY
Better pay is a constant topic for women in the workplace. How can organizations like WIN Summit help women better prepare when negotiating their salary and asking for their worth?
“If more employers can stop basing salary pay on salary history that would be the greatest start. Let’s create an open and honest workspace to discuss compensation amongst both genders. Let’s bring in the paycheck fairness act so bringing light to the issue brings a positive and supported effect to exposing the gender wage gap.” - Gwendolyn Osborne, “Find Your Inner Wonder Woman”, Speaker, Model, Actress,a nd Podcast Host
7. MANAGING YOUR EMOTIONS
Managing your emotions can be the difference between getting what you want during the negotiation phase of a business deal and not. How can managing emotions help position women to win during confrontational moments?
“In the art of negation, it is vital to be aware of your own triggers, negative thoughts and distractions. Be mindful of others body movements during the negotiation process, and be ready to pivot to reengage the listener. Anchoring yourself by keeping your focus on the topic and breathing through uncomfortable feelings will allow you to feel more in control. Lastly, do not allow transference to occur by absorbing negative emotions from others.” - Dr. Wendy Talley, LCSW, Founder and CEO of Thelese Consulting Group, LLC
8. KNOWING WHEN TO WALK AWAY
Knowing when to walk away is a consistent topic of conversation amongst women when it comes not only to business relationships but to personal ones as well. When does knowing when to walk away become a powerful skill in the world of negotiation?
“Whether you are dealing with a personal or business relationship, the bottom line comes down to what you are willing to give or compromise in order to achieve the mutually agreed upon outcome. As a woman, you become so powerful when you don’t hold onto that fear of missing out and knowing that no matter the end result, you have stood firm in your integrity and what you bring to the table.” - Nicky Hassaballa, Relationship Expert
9. DEVELOPING YOUR CONFIDENCE
How does confidence come into play when creating a powerful foundation to negotiate?
“Confidence is everything when it comes to negotiation. When in doubt, trust your personal experiences (work and life) and use it to feel solid in your self-worth. Also, come prepared with information to back up your negotiation points. Try to consider counter-points and anticipate questions that may come up during the negotiation. Ultimately, preparation + experience is what will give you the foundational confidence you need to successfully negotiate.” - Jesyka Harris, Attorney, Activist, and Lifestyle Expert
10. BEING POSITIVE
Being positive and having a mindset that expects good things is a key part of attracting and manifesting what we want in life. How does this play a role in negotiations?
“Being positive and having a mindset that expects good things promotes confidence and trust in oneself. Trusting yourself is a key essential to knowing your value in order to price your services or products properly. Self-confidence is a reminder that sometimes there is no room for negotiation when it comes to your value. I do not live in a world of cheapening my value nor do I ask others to do so for me, as I live by the golden rule in all of my affairs.” - Bridgette Richards, CEO of Bevertything Body
Understanding and utilizing the art of negotiation is a powerful tool women can leverage to be more effective leaders, provide more value to their organizations, and make massive strides in their careers and personal lives.
There is no better place to come together with other ambitious professional women to hone your negotiating skills than this year’s WIN Summit.
You can learn more about the 2023 Summit and secure your virtual seat right here. Use code GAEARLYBIRD40 to receive 40% off your ticket price until January 27, 2023.
WIN can help ensure you always have the confidence and tools to ask for your true worth!
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Join us for WIN Summit 2023 on April 19th to connect with women from around the world.
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