Like many Americans, I have a deep seeded fear of negotiating. In my case I attribute this fear primarily to always shopping in places where the prices are non-negotiable and my amiable personality. Regardless of what the reason is, you can overcome your fear of negotiation.
Practice Negotiating
Use non-threatening situations where the stakes are low to practice your negotiation skills. A garage sale is the perfect place to sharpen your skills, or even negotiate for the first time. The nice thing about garage sales is that most people expect you to negotiate. Consider the sticker price their first offer. Today I was garage selling and I overheard two women haggling over $0.50! No matter how little the amount, always try to get a better deal in these situations. You will walk away not only with a nice little knick-knack, but also a sense of accomplishment, no matter the outcome.
Prepare for your Negotiation
When you know that you will encounter a negotiation situation in the near future, practice what you are going to say and brainstorm and various outcomes. Bring your friends and family in on the deal as role play partners. You will both be benefiting from the experience and probably a good laugh in the process. There is no excuse for inadequate preparation in negotiation.
It’s Just Business!
Are you afraid of offending someone? If you are amiable person, like me, you may run into problem quite frequently. I would rather be polite than profit, but this usually works to my demise. A common situation where many run into this is at the office. They have to see these people every day, after all, and they don’t want to do anything to jeopardize workplace relationships. When it comes to asking for a raise or promotion you deserve sometimes being agreeable, or saying nothing, just don’t work. Familiar with the power of positive thinking, well without action on your part your plans will stay just that. You can only get what you ask for.
Got a story to tell about how you overcame your fear of negotiation? Let us know in the Forum.
