Master negotiation with courage, master your life

Last weekend, I had the chance to host a Leadership Masterclass with a group of incredible women from the Leadership Connection I’m a part of. We dove into so many valuable techniques and learnings, but a key theme that really stood out was about facing our fears and embracing them with courage.

One moment that sparked great discussion was a live poll where most people saw negotiation as adversarial or confrontational—a zero-sum game with a high chance of rejection.

Sound familiar? Many of us shy away from negotiating because of these perceptions, but here’s the thing: negotiation can be collaborative, even fun!

Take salary negotiations, for example. Instead of getting stuck on just base pay, why not explore the bigger picture? Think total compensation, flexibility, and growth prospects for the employee, and things like staying within budget and retaining top talent for the employer.

By focusing on what both sides truly care about, you can grow the pie for everyone.

Some strategies that can really help:

• Active listening: Really tune in to the other person’s perspective. Mirroring and labeling emotions can build rapport and trust.

• Calibrated questions: Open-ended questions like "How can we solve this?" or "What’s your biggest challenge?" can shift the conversation in a more productive direction.

• Getting comfortable with ‘no’: A ‘no’ helps the other person feel in control and it isn’t the end—it’s an opportunity to dig deeper and clarify needs.

Think about how you can practice these techniques in your everyday life. It doesn’t have to be high-stakes—small wins will build your confidence over time.

And if you're wondering how coaching could support you in stepping into these challenges, this might be the perfect time to explore it. How could a coach help you embrace that?

Reply to this email or leave a comment below and let’s celebrate the everyday acts of courage that inspire us all.

I’ll always be here,

Joping

Joping is Certified Coach based in Singapore. She believes courage helps us embrace our fears and lead the lives we want. This newsletter is the manifestation of her courage.