The "Do It Yourself" Career Negotiation Plan
Yes, we’re in business to make money. Just like you are. And yes we love our work. Love, love, love it. But mostly we do this because we want YOU to close your wage gap. It’s a legacy job. You know, the “third act” in someone’s career life. The one where you pull together everything you’ve ever done and direct it, finally, at something you’re personally passionate about.
This “do it yourself” plan is a step in that direction. We think you could still use some assistance, but these steps will get you far closer to your goal than anything we can think of short of hiring us.
Go get ‘em, champ.
You’ve got this wage gap thing
Start here
1. Identify negotiation issues. Money of course, but also career path, opportunities for experiences that lead to promotions. Title changes. Better material and human resources. Brainstorm. Write them all down.
2. Choose your bargaining partner. The person who needs you the most is usually my choice.
3 Identify and activate your allies. Let them know what you're up to and what you want. Get their feedback. Ask for their support.
4. Make two lists: (a) your bargaining partner's interests (needs, desires, preferences, priorities, challenges, fears); and (b) a list of your company's interests.
5. Rewrite your job description in a way that satisfies the interests on your list.
6. Assess your bargaining strengths and weaknesses. Write them all down.
7. Identify your own negotiation priorities and potential tradeoffs.
8. Make the first proposal at least three steps above your bottom line.
9. Run your plan by someone, anyone, though of course we recommend coaching.
10. Schedule a meeting, preferably in person, and pitch your proposal as mutually beneficial.
11. Listen. Silence is the most powerful tactic in your negotiation arsenal.
12. Explore the reactions of your negotiation partner (“what you’re saying is X. Is that right?” and then either, “let me think about that. Can I get back to you tomorrow, next week, etc.” or “I understand. I think that’s an obstacle we can solve if we do or discuss or think about Y . . . . . “)
13. Make small concessions and ask for reciprocity.
14. Trade items of high value for you for items of low expense to them (this is called “log rolling”).
15. Always Be Closing. “I think we’ve made progress. You’ve been very helpful. Let’s meet again to talk some more.”
This is what we do. The more you become used to doing at least some part of this plan yourself, the less help you need, the better your outcome and the less expensive our services will be because you’ve already done half our work for us.
The Fifty Buck Consult
The Return on Your Investment Will Surprise You
Our free fifteen minute consult is now a fifty buck half hour. We changed that up because people were booking and then blowing it off (because, I guess, free) and because the free calls were frankly dominating our time.
The return on your fifty dollar investment will be so surprisingly high that we think you’ll be happy with the expense. We’re so confident that we’ll satisfy you, we’ll refund your $50 if you’re not happy with the result. And if you hire us, we’ll apply that $50 to the cost of your more thorough consult.
Good? We think so.