Welcome back! Yesterday we shared part one of this blog post. Read it here. Let’s dive into the other two myths that hold women back in corporate workplaces.
Myth 2 – Women do not know how to negotiate well on salary and promotion.
You can learn anything, including the best negotiation tactics on salary and promotion, but if you go in believing that you are poor at the task, you will perform poorly. So while you need to believe that you can be good at it, you do have to spend time learning the skill and practicing it. That is the only gap between you and a guy who is a master negotiator. Easy! It has nothing to do with you being a woman, just learning the necessary steps.
So look up some resources, get yourself a coach, or book a session with me to learn how to negotiate the best outcome for your next salary or promotion at the job.
Myth 3 – Women are afraid of getting a no, so they don’t ask.
Everyone is afraid of getting a no. It is human nature. We seek approval and love and praise, and shy away from criticism. Unfortunately, we associate a “no” with criticism. They are unrelated. A no is simply a delayed yes. A no means not now, not yet, or not yes based on how you positioned your offer. A no is simply an invitation to ask again, to find a better way to getting to yes, and to challenge you to think differently about your situation.
“No” is wonderful! Remember, a no is not a rejection, but rather a response to your request. My challenge for you is to go after a no tomorrow. Make friends with it, be less uncomfortable, and you will be ahead of all your peers—men and women—in a great area of life.
Now that you know the myths, cheer up, because opportunities abound for those who believe.
Even when we learn that something is not true, our habits force us in that direction when things go wrong, so expect to have a period of re-training your mind. For instance, next time your girlfriend tells you how she got a “no” to a raise she asked for and says, “Well, it’s typical! Women always get a no,” pause before you jump into agreement and instead, ask: “Is it really true? Let’s assume that’s not the case. What else could it be?” And challenge your old beliefs.
You can only advance in your job and create new fresh opportunities for yourself when you believe you can make it happen. That is your homework for now.
– Farnoosh Brock, Business and Career Coach, Prolific Living Inc.
