6 must-know negotiation tips
We recently joined Lauren McGoodwin on her podcast to talk all things negotiation.
Hi there,
We recently joined Lauren McGoodwin on her podcast to talk all things negotiation.
Here are a few key principles we walked through on the episode:
1. Don’t overshare—especially when talking about other offers.
You can (and should) say you have other offers. But don’t say who they’re from or what they pay. That information doesn’t help you; it helps them.
2. Show excitement.
Some candidates fear that showing enthusiasm makes them look desperate. In reality, it gives the company confidence that if they go through the work of increasing your offer, you might actually accept it. That makes them more likely to negotiate with you.
3. Avoid market data rabbit holes.
Most public compensation data is inaccurate. Even if it were precise, companies always have a way to dismiss it (“we look at candidates holistically,” “our comp philosophy is unique”). Better to ask open-ended questions and let them reveal their range.
4. Make multiple asks, gently.
Don’t just counter once and call it a day. You can (and often should) negotiate in stages. Be kind, be professional, and stay excited. Each ask should feel like part of an ongoing conversation, not a demand.
5. At minimum, negotiate at least once.
A corollary to point #4 goes without saying: you should negotiate at least once! The best offer is almost never the best and final offer, whether in a job context or most other situations in life.
Bonus insight
Lauren also asked us our favorite question you may have seen before:
"What’s the one trait that makes someone a great employee but a terrible negotiator?"
Our answer: overcommunication.
It’s what makes you incredible in the workplace – looping in stakeholders, proactively aligning cross-functional teams, anticipating questions before they’re asked.
But in a negotiation? Oversharing kills your leverage.
We’ve seen people casually mention they want to move to Bali next year, or that they're expecting a child soon, or that they’re holding out for an offer from TikTok. None of that needs to be said.
In negotiations, you want to be:
clear but concise
assertive but cordial
collaborative but strategic
If you want the full breakdown, the episode is live here:
[YouTube] | [Spotify] | [Apple Podcasts]
We also covered how to manage the fear that can come up when negotiating – especially in a tough job market – and how to avoid the biggest missteps even senior professionals make.
Talk soon,
Gerta & Alex
Co-founders, YourNegotiations.com
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