Embracing Awkward Silences
What would you do if I told you that embracing awkward silences can literally make you money? 💸🤫Don’t get me wrong, negotiating your salary can seem like an intimidating process, but it's a crucial step in getting paid fairly. And the best way to do it? Embracing awkward silences.
Here’s where most people go wrong. They negotiate like this 👎🏻
❌👩🏼💼: “Well, I wanted to see if you all could raise the offer a few thousand… but I know the market is competitive right now so it’s okay if not..”
❌🧑🏻💼: “I’d like to counter at $50,000… but if you can just do $45,000 that works too!”
❌👨🏽💼: “I know this is a competitive role so I’d like to negotiate… but I’m also happy with the offer as is!”
❌👨🏿💻: “Are you able to do $65,000…? It’s ok if not I just figured I’d check!”
Sound familiar? Then stop ✋🏼🙅🏼♀️ These methods are getting you nowhere.
In salary negotiation, silence is often misunderstood or avoided altogether. But embracing them will give you the strategic advantage you didn't even know you needed 💰✨ Here’s why:
😬 Creates Discomfort: Awkward silences create a sense of discomfort, prompting the other party to fill the void by making concessions or offering a higher salary.
👩💼 Demonstrates Confidence: By remaining silent, you display confidence and control, signaling that you are prepared to wait until a satisfactory offer is presented.
✍🏼 Encourages Counteroffers: Silence invites the other party to reconsider their initial offer and potentially propose a higher salary or better benefits.
📈 Shows Value: When you stay silent, you communicate that you value your skills and contributions, conveying the message that you deserve fair compensation.
So say exactly what you want and then be quiet for like 30 seconds 🤫🤐 Let them think and talk themselves into it.
Still not convinced? To illustrate the power of embracing awkward silences in salary negotiation, let's dive into a sample skit 👇🏼👇🏼
👩🏼💼Candidate (C): Thank you for considering me for this position. I'm excited about the opportunity to join your team and contribute my skills and experience.
🧑🏾💼Hiring Manager (HM): We're impressed with your qualifications, and we'd like to offer you a starting salary of $60,000.
👩🏼💼C: Thank you for the offer. I appreciate your confidence in my abilities. Are you able to send the offer in writing so that I can review it?
🧑🏾💼HM: Sure, just sent!
👩🏼💼C: Hi, thank you again for your offer, I’m so excited to join the team! After reviewing the details, I was expecting a salary more in the range of $75,000 to $80,000. Considering my proficiencies in x, y and z, I bring much more to the role than a standard editor.
✨[Silence]✨
🧑🏾💼HM: Well, that's higher than what we initially had in mind. Let me see what I can do.
👩🏼💼C: ✨[Silence]✨
🧑🏾💼HM: Okay, I can see that this is important to you. Let me discuss this with my team and see if we can meet your expectations. Would you be willing to compromise at $70,000?
👩🏼💼C: ✨[Silence]✨
🧑🏾💼HM: Alright, we can offer you a salary of $72,000. Would that work for you?
👩🏼💼C: Thank you for considering my request. I would feel more comfortable with a salary of $75,000. Can we meet halfway at $73,500?
✨[Silence]✨
🧑🏾💼HM: Okay, we can agree to that. $73,500 it is.
👩🏼💼C: Thank you. I'm excited to accept this offer and contribute to the success of the team.
Embracing awkward silences can be a powerful technique in salary negotiation. Yes they’re uncomfortable, but stay calm, patient, and focused on your desired outcome. You won’t be thinking about 30 seconds of awkward silence when you’re cashing +$300 🤑💸 more dollars each paycheck! So remember your value and advocate for fair compensation with confidence and assertiveness.
You got this! 👏
If you're looking for more job searching tips, be sure to check out my Career Workshop Intensive, a 4-part program designed to help you land a job you love ASAP. 🌈