Negotiation is an everyday skill

Negotiation is often associated with salary, raises, and benefits, but there's a vast amount of negotiables. We negotiate nearly every day - who will wash the dishes after dinner? Who will walk the dog tomorrow morning? How many times will you end up ordering takeout instead of cooking dinner at home?

Negotiation is a skill you'll use over and over and over again. As just one example of the diverse situations where you're able to apply that skill, we're talking travel today.

We have all experienced or heard about the countless travel plans that the pandemic cancelled last year, and it remains on ongoing issue. Quite frankly, who hasn't dealt with an unpleasant or frustrating experience at an airport due to a delayed flight, lost baggage, or up-charged flight tickets?

Here, for example, is an article from the onset of the pandemic about how to negotiate with airlines.

Here's another piece on negotiating for a better Airbnb price.

The Washington Post even wrote an article about how you can apply expert negotiation strategies to refund your vacation if you need to change your plans.

Truly, nearly anything is negotiable when you consider that negotiation is simply a discussion during which at least two different parties come to an agreement.

Now, on the topic of travel, there's one last piece we'll share. Some of us might be able to make travel arrangements without needing to consider how our skin color might affect our plans, but not everyone shares that experience.

This article, "Airbnb while Black: How to avoid racism while traveling," digs into this issue:

"If you’ve seen #AirbnbWhileBlack, then you are familiar with the social media movement born out of frustration, disappointment, and disgust with Airbnb’s inability to create a travel community that offers all travelers a safe, welcoming experience.

In 2015, Airbnb came under scrutiny when Black hosts and renters reported incidents of racial discrimination. Complaints alleged that the images of Black users were the reason they did not receive bookings or were denied lodging by hosts. Airbnb itself was accused of only removing inactive accounts of Black users instead of all users with inactive accounts."

You can continue reading at this link, where you'll also find alternatives to Airbnb, preparing to travel while Black, and a tip to negotiate your Airbnb price.

Keep in mind: you can negotiate more than you think. It's a skill that you might be thinking about during your job search or as you approach a conversation with your boss about your salary — but consider negotiation a skill you will use for the rest of your life.

You can book an hour-long consult here or a deeper strategic session that includes live support, a personalized plan, role-playing, and more.