We all want it both ways: to get what we want from a tough negotiation and to walk away with our relationship intact. The good news is that kind of outcome is possible. But how exactly do you drive a hard bargain while also employing soft skills? How do you advocate for what you want without burning important bridges? What the Experts Say A negotiation is “a courtship, a dance,” says Michael Wheeler, a professor at Harvard Business School and author of The Art of Negotiation: How to Improvise Agreement in a Chaotic World. “But you don’t have to compromise and settle for less in order to maintain good relations.” Jeff Weiss, a partner at Vantage Partners, a Boston-based consultancy specializing in corporate negotiations and relationship management, and author of the HBR Guide to Negotiating, agrees.
Source: How to Negotiate Nicely Without Being a Pushover – HBR
Negotiating salary is not as complicated as the article makes it to be. Part one is to get the salary range they are looking to pay. You then have a starting point. A good line to use if they ask you about salary is “I am well aware of your salary range and would welcome an offer in the middle to top range of your structure. If you don’t know the range change the subject. Know what you want and know what you are worth. If you really want to work for that company and they really want you on their team both sides will hammer out an equitable deal. Candidates that followed my preparation instruction performed better and wound up with better package than those that did not.