Many of the most important negotiations that will impact your professional advancement (and
therefore your personal life as well) involve your employment and salary. Did you know that your first
salary determines the salaries you will have for the rest of your life? Getting a head start on sharpening
your skills in negotiation will make all the difference in this realm.
The first point you should realize is that negotiation is hardly ever a one-time transaction. It is a process
that begins from the first impression you make when you meet a new contact and continues to the
moment that both parties sign o on a deal. It involves give and take, for both parties, and the goal
should be to forge a win-win agreement for you and your colleague. Don’t think of the other person as
an opponent – you are not trying to “one-up” them. Instead, you are seeking to create an exchange of
value whereby each party gains something that they consider valuable for their efforts.