We’ve all heard the expression “it’s not personal, it’s business,” right? It’s a nice sound bite, but I find it rather untrue, especially when it comes to negotiations. If you’re truly committed to your career, every decision you make affects you in a very personal way. And if you’re negotiating for the terms of your comp package, you better believe it’s personal.
It’s critical to convey real life examples to substantiate why you need more money. Negotiating without them makes your asks seem unfounded & paints you as greedy. If you depict your personal life accurately, you’ll definitely see your negotiating power increase with the firm. You’ll also appear more human, likable & worthy of the money.
Are you planning a wedding? Have a mortgage or student loans? Buying a house? Do you have kids & and if so, how many? Personalize your negotiations and you’ll ultimately get much further in them.