Have you ever been out shopping and found a lovely pair of shoes you must have?
You want to make your purchase with cash.
Let’s say your total cost is $70 and you give the cashier a $100 bill.
Do you grab your shoes and go, or do you wait for the cashier to return your change?
You get your $30 back, of course. You don’t just leave your money on the counter.
But that’s exactly what you may be doing in your professional life…
So how do you know if you’re walking away from money and opportunity that can be yours?
I’d like to share 3 warning situations that scream, “You’re leaving money!”
1. IN TALKS ABOUT MONEY, YOU ONLY AIM FOR A YES:
If you’re in money negotiations of any kind, and you find you’re getting a “yes” right away, this is a sign of not getting all that’s available to you. While it seems like a good thing to get a “yes,” unfortunately you probably aren’t getting all you can.
I had a colleague reach out to me recently prior to a meeting where money was part of the conversation. I coached her to make a bigger Ask, first of all. After the meeting, she told me excitedly that she got a “no.” That sounds backwards to you, maybe, but let me explain the perspective. Now she has the opportunity to have a real conversation and figure out exactly what will be the best price for both parties. I haven’t heard yet, but I’m confident she will get more than what she would have if she went with a lower offer.
2. YOU’RE ASKING ONLY AT AN ORDAINED TIME:
Quarterly reviews and contract renegotiation are times when you are given an opening to make an Ask that you want. But sometimes you can make an Ask out of the blue. You could be passing up lots of great opportunities by not speaking up. Look for ways to move you forward. It doesn’t matter if there’s a preset time allocated to make an Ask. Act according to your timetable, not someone else’s.
3. YOU ARE HOLDING BACK:
A natural inclination is to scale back an Ask. You want to seem less demanding. You want to soften. But you don’t have to do that! You can be bold. You have every right to try to get what you want and deserve. All you have to do is decide, step into your power and make that Ask.
#AskLikeAnAuctioneer
