Negotiation skills are vital in the business world. Those who want to make a name for themselves in this domain must be prepared to deal with negotiations on a daily basis. An upsetting trend keeps growing though; college graduates who are women tend to avoid negotiations. They would rather limit their potential and hide their amazing capabilities, than show that they can bargain for what they want.
Unlike men, women feel guilty when it comes to asking for more money or better incentives, even though this is quite normal in business. Bargaining means asking for something more than you're being offered. It's a skill only experienced business people can master, and the problem with women is that they're too timid and afraid to negotiate. They hate rejection!
Studies have shown that 57% of male college graduates negotiate; as for the women, only 7% can bargain. Women are less confident than men, and this lack of self-assurance compels them to remain on the safe side and accept offers without negotiating for more.
Emotions - a business woman's most dreadful enemy
Women who negotiate often deduce that if they use the same strategies as men, they will lose. Aggressive negotiations may lead to conflicting situations, and since women are more sentimental, they fear that their colleagues will like them less. That's certainly not the case, however, it's literally impossible to make women feel different, especially if they're rookie negotiators with little experience.
Experienced business women don't have a problem with using intimidating techniques to win a bargain. If you know that you have everything it takes to land a good deal, it's perfectly okay to use your best strategies to win. College graduates hesitate to negotiate a job offer because they don't want to lose it. However, a company that really wants to hire you (because they know you have potential), should be willing to negotiate.
Look at the bright side
Many college graduates who are women assume that it's not worth asking for a raise, since it's unlikely that the potential employer will agree. Unlike men, who are more direct, women don't like to be rejected; they become emotional and they start believing that the other person has something personal with them. It is important for women to look at the bright side during a negotiation. Just because an employer or associate doesn't agree or can't offer something better, it doesn't mean they dislike you.
Think positive, bring solid arguments for your claims, and you have high chances of closing a good deal. Sometimes in business, it's not about having experience, it's about being smart and taking sensible decisions.
Women can't intimidate
To some extent, this claim is true. College graduates who lack experience in negotiations can't intimidate. Women in particular, fear this sort of situations because conflict makes them feel emotional and vulnerable. In the business world, men are more aggressive and competitive, while women are collaborative and more understanding. Rather than negotiate for something better, women would rather agree to win-win solutions.
Being polite, friendly, and having a professional attitude must not be confused with naivety. Unfortunately, most male negotiators think women are bad negotiators. They're not. They're just calmer and more willing to compromise.
Practice - the key to mastering negotiations
They say college life doesn't teach students a lot of things about real life. While that might be true, it is important for women to find a way and ward off their fears for negotiations. The business sector is like a terrifying battlefield where only the toughest candidates experience success. Confidence and determination are two traits women must learn to master. Young women have endless opportunities to negotiate successfully; they just have to stop taking things personally.
There are women who don't avoid negotiations because they're insecure or shy. They just don't want to hurt people's feelings. Are you a young woman looking to make a future in business? Then it's worth learning and mastering the art of negotiation. To get to the top and rally attain success, intense negotiation training will be required. It's really not that difficult to thrive, you just need to get over your fears and misconceptions, and get started.
Unlike men, women feel guilty when it comes to asking for more money or better incentives, even though this is quite normal in business. Bargaining means asking for something more than you're being offered. It's a skill only experienced business people can master, and the problem with women is that they're too timid and afraid to negotiate. They hate rejection!
Studies have shown that 57% of male college graduates negotiate; as for the women, only 7% can bargain. Women are less confident than men, and this lack of self-assurance compels them to remain on the safe side and accept offers without negotiating for more.
Emotions - a business woman's most dreadful enemy
Women who negotiate often deduce that if they use the same strategies as men, they will lose. Aggressive negotiations may lead to conflicting situations, and since women are more sentimental, they fear that their colleagues will like them less. That's certainly not the case, however, it's literally impossible to make women feel different, especially if they're rookie negotiators with little experience.
Experienced business women don't have a problem with using intimidating techniques to win a bargain. If you know that you have everything it takes to land a good deal, it's perfectly okay to use your best strategies to win. College graduates hesitate to negotiate a job offer because they don't want to lose it. However, a company that really wants to hire you (because they know you have potential), should be willing to negotiate.
Look at the bright side
Many college graduates who are women assume that it's not worth asking for a raise, since it's unlikely that the potential employer will agree. Unlike men, who are more direct, women don't like to be rejected; they become emotional and they start believing that the other person has something personal with them. It is important for women to look at the bright side during a negotiation. Just because an employer or associate doesn't agree or can't offer something better, it doesn't mean they dislike you.
Think positive, bring solid arguments for your claims, and you have high chances of closing a good deal. Sometimes in business, it's not about having experience, it's about being smart and taking sensible decisions.
Women can't intimidate
To some extent, this claim is true. College graduates who lack experience in negotiations can't intimidate. Women in particular, fear this sort of situations because conflict makes them feel emotional and vulnerable. In the business world, men are more aggressive and competitive, while women are collaborative and more understanding. Rather than negotiate for something better, women would rather agree to win-win solutions.
Being polite, friendly, and having a professional attitude must not be confused with naivety. Unfortunately, most male negotiators think women are bad negotiators. They're not. They're just calmer and more willing to compromise.
Practice - the key to mastering negotiations
They say college life doesn't teach students a lot of things about real life. While that might be true, it is important for women to find a way and ward off their fears for negotiations. The business sector is like a terrifying battlefield where only the toughest candidates experience success. Confidence and determination are two traits women must learn to master. Young women have endless opportunities to negotiate successfully; they just have to stop taking things personally.
There are women who don't avoid negotiations because they're insecure or shy. They just don't want to hurt people's feelings. Are you a young woman looking to make a future in business? Then it's worth learning and mastering the art of negotiation. To get to the top and rally attain success, intense negotiation training will be required. It's really not that difficult to thrive, you just need to get over your fears and misconceptions, and get started.