Fear of Negotiating

Recently, I came across an interesting book by Adam Grant called Give and Take, which delves into the concept of Givers, Takers, and Matchers.

While I won’t go into all the details, the book resonated with me because it touched upon the issue of salary disparity.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 1973, women were making 57 cents for every dollar earned by men. Although progress has been made, the gap still exists, with women earning 83 cents for every dollar a man makes.

Interestingly, research shows that in most cases, the initial salary offers between men and women were similar.

So, what causes this discrepancy?

It turns out that men were more likely to negotiate initial salary offers than women.

This discrepancy in negotiation continues to play a significant role in the wage gap.

It is important to note however, not all men are comfortable negotiating their salary.

Just as not all women are uncomfortable doing so.

Many men, myself included, struggle negotiating salaries due to a variety of reasons, including a lack of confidence or fear of negative repercussions.

That’s why I want to share a valuable insight from Adam Grant’s book:

When negotiating, think of negotiating as advocating for someone else rather than yourself.

Research has shown that individuals who negotiated salaries on behalf of someone else, such as a mentee or a loved one, were able to secure higher compensation than when negotiating for themselves.

This approach can help overcome the psychological barriers that hinder negotiation efforts.

If you’re unsure about how to approach salary negotiation, or have a fear of negotiating, I have a video that provides practical tips and strategies, Conquer Salary Negotiation Fear

Please let me know in the comments section what you think.