Negotiation, the Skill Everyone Should Have
Hello đŸ‘‹, welcome to the third step in the 6 Steps to Stand Out in Your Career series. I hope you find it valuable and that it helps you grow in your career journey!
Negotiation is a crucial skill for everyone. Whether you're solving a conflict, closing a deal, or asking for a raise, knowing how to negotiate can open doors and create opportunities. It’s not just for business executives or salespeople, every professional can benefit from mastering this skill.
Let’s dive into three key areas where negotiation can make a big difference in your career.
1. Negotiating with Stakeholders
For developers, negotiation is just as important as coding. How often do you need to convince stakeholders that your solution is the best? Think of these examples:
Explaining why microservices might work better than a monolith.
Proposing caching to boost performance.
Demonstrate that tests are essential, and it is a must-have.
Tools like ADR (Architecture Decision Records) can help document your decisions and make your case stronger. In IT, the answer "it depends" is very common, so knowing how to negotiate trade-offs is essential.
2. Understanding Your Role
Knowing your role and its expectations is essential for effective negotiation. Why? Because it gives you the foundation to advocate for your ideas or ask for career growth opportunities.
Start by researching what’s expected at your level.
For example, Dropbox’s Career Framework for Principal Software Engineers provides clear guidelines on skills, responsibilities, and impact.
When you understand your role deeply, you can confidently show how your work aligns with expectations or even exceeds them. This makes it easier to negotiate for promotions, raises, or new responsibilities.
3. Negotiating Your Salary
Salary negotiation is a skill every professional should develop. It’s not just about asking for a raise, it’s about showing your value. Here’s how you can do it:
Research market standards: Know what others in your role are earning.
Showcase your impact: Highlight your achievements and how they’ve benefited your team or company.
Become visible: Invest in training and certifications to demonstrate your commitment to growth and improvement.
Conclusion
Negotiation is more than just a skill, it’s a tool for career growth. Whether you’re convincing stakeholders, understanding your role, or discussing your salary, negotiation can help you navigate challenges and seize opportunities.
These are just a few negotiation tips. If you’d like to explore more, leave a comment.
That's an excellent point. I would add that community engagement, through active participation and increased visibility, directly strengthens your negotiating position. Showcasing your expertise and contributions provides concrete evidence of your skills and impact, enhancing your perceived value.