Negotiating
When you need to ask others to change behavior that is adversely affecting your work, follow this advice.
To prove that arguing can be positive if done in the right context, blog creator Shane Parrish shares some advice from Jonathan Herring, author of How to Argue.
It’s important to hold your ground in a tough office environment without coming across as angry or aggressive. And knowing where the line is between assertive and aggressive can make or break your career, say business experts.
After three years as head writer for Saturday Night Live, Adam McKay was ready to quit in 2000. But before leaving SNL, McKay took his agent’s advice and approached Lorne Michaels with a series of demands he’d need fulfilled to stay put. Employing the “least-interest” principle worked for him beautifully.
Negotiating with an influential person may feel like fighting a losing battle. If you’re about to go toe-to-toe with someone who has more status or power than you, quash your feelings of helplessness by preparing yourself mentally beforehand, suggests Brazen Careerist writer Savannah Marie. She offers these six tips.
When you make a request at work, the best way to get what you want is to “own the question,” says leadership writer and speaker Geoffrey James.
The fear of damaging a relationship might keep you from saying “no” to your boss or to a co-worker, but turning down someone doesn’t have to come across as combative or reluctant, notes Harvard Business Review writer Holly Weeks.
Top admins exhibit bridge-building communication skills by emphasizing shared interests and minimizing resistance. Try these techniques to communicate better with colleagues.
Next time you find yourself in a standoff, exert influence and come to an amicable solution with these five tips from Bob Burg, author of Adversaries Into Allies.
Plenty of problems get on your nerves at work, but trying to fight every one of them will leave you exhausted and your colleagues thinking you’re a pain. Harvard Business Review’s Amy Gallo suggests these tips for choosing your workplace battles wisely.
Research from Stanford University found that people who fear asking others for favors may be stifling their own chances of getting a “yes.” Get the most from your requests with these tips from blogger Jessica Stillman.
Handling a complaint is a high-stakes situation, whether it’s from someone you support in the office or a customer. Please a person who is upset, and you develop an ally; botch it, and you never recover in that person’s eyes.
Mary Jo Asmus, founder and president, Aspire Collaborative Services, offers advice and conversational tools for anyone who wants to have a positive influence on others.
