Negotiation skills for women (with actor)

Psychological research shows that women have more difficulty than men to ask for what they want, on average. They experience internal barriers to be assertive and negotiate openly, often because they invest in the relationship more than in their own needs. The quality that women posess more than men on average (social skills and maintaining the relationship) sometimes goes at the expense of their personal goals and needs. This partly appears to explain the differences in salary between men and women, and the lower number of women in high positions. Women who want to move up therefore appreciate this course highly:  negotiation skills can help you find the balance between getting what you want and maintaining good relations.

Finding a compromise is not always the ideal solution, though we seem programmed to go for it too easily. Forcing it may cause friction, and giving in will cost us our own objectives. What can we do to get thet maximum out of a negotiation, both for yourself as well as for your conversation partner? How can we get the optimum, and maintain a good relationship at the same time? The basic principles are the same, whether we deal with negotiations regarding salary or when we decide which movie to go to in the cinema with our partners.

Negotiation is about knowing what you can give and ask for (currency), exchanging wishes and needs rather than positions, dilemma’s or stale mates. It is therefore not so much about winning as it is about asking questions and showing respect for your conversation partner.

We explore various negotiation strategies in situations handed to us by the participants from their own context. A test gives us insight in the natural negotiation qualities of the participants and their pitfalls. In cases with an actor we then try these styles and strategies.

After this training you will find it easier to stand up for yourself and get what you really want, as you wil have tools to negotiate while maintaining a good relationship with everyone.