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How to Use Gender Bias to Your Benefit in Negotiations

When you walk through the toy section at your local Target, what colors do you see? Typically, half the store is pink, filled with princesses and dolls, and the other half is blue, black, or red, packed with trucks and sports gear.

While a gendered toy section may not seem like a big deal at first glance, our early introductions to biased concepts of gender have far-reaching effects and consequences. Many gender stereotypes are ingrained into people’s subconscious during childhood, and they show up everywhere, from the playground to the workplace.

Throughout history, gender biases and stereotypes have put women at a disadvantage, limiting their career potential and excluding them from male-dominated sectors—which, historically, have been nearly all of them.

But what if I told you that you can make gender stereotypes work for you rather than against you? What if I told you that when you learn to recognize gender bias, you can use it to help negotiate for what you need and desire most?

Identifying Early Concepts of Gender

When you were a young girl, were you encouraged to quietly create crafts or play turn-taking games like hop-scotch? Alternately, were your brothers or the local neighborhood boys encouraged to play competitive sports like football or basketball?

Harmless as it may appear, that early coaxing is integral to shaping children’s skills and interests. In its simplest form, it conditions girls to be collaborative and nurturing while conditioning boys to be assertive and combative.

Here’s the truth: these gender stereotypes are not necessarily rooted in science. Not all boys are naturally more competitive, and not all girls are naturally more nurturing. Rather, society encourages children to develop separate skills from an early age. Research shows that kids between the ages of 3 and 7 have already formed distinct concepts of gender!

You can see the early effects of gender biases and expectations when asking a kid what they want to be when they grow up. Typically, girls cite women-dominated careers like teachers and nurses, while boys choose stereotypically masculine jobs like firefighters or pilots.

These early concepts of gender remain throughout adolescence and adulthood, confining people to societal expectations and threatening to limit their true potential as human beings.

Recognizing Gender Bias in the Workplace

The gendered assumptions enforced during childhood linger through adulthood and into people’s careers. The Fawcett Society, the UK’s leading advocate for gender equality and women’s rights, found that 51% of people feel that gender stereotyping in childhood constrained their career choices later in life.

The competitive traits that boys develop at a young age lead them to adopt steadfast attitudes as men. In the workplace, men come across as rational and logical, emphasizing objective fact over subjective opinion. Gender norms permit men to be more dominant and authoritative in their approach, feeding the stereotype that men are more direct and effective.

Women, on the other hand, are conditioned to value collaboration. They’re more inclined to form alliances and prioritize strong relationships. When they find themselves in situations (especially in the workplace) that aren’t conducive to collaboration, they may become passive, submissive, and tense. This tendency leads to deferential behavior and tentative speech patterns, like using the doubtful phrases “I think” and “I’m not really sure” to sound less forceful and more participatory.

Do you see yourself succumbing to these gender stereotypes and constraints in your own personal and professional life? It’s hard to undo society’s conditioning, but recognizing gender biases for what they are can help you overcome their limitations and use them to your advantage.

Using Gender Bias to Your Advantage in Negotiation

There’s a temptation to reject gender stereotypes entirely—and I can certainly understand that inclination! We’re gradually moving further away from a traditionally gendered society, but we’re still not quite there yet. As long as gender bias still exists, I suggest finding ways to make these stereotypes work to your advantage:

Flip the gender stereotype. We’ve all heard the phrase “act like a lady,” often used derisively to imply that women should passively smile and nod to avoid conflict. People generally expect their female adversaries to behave less competitively and more cooperatively, so use this knowledge as your secret weapon and allow them to underestimate you! While aggression comes across as threatening and offensive (both counterproductive in negotiation), an assertive approach will help you embrace your power. Take control and demonstrate a firm but fair demeanor. You’ll take the advantage when you show them you’re in control. This control comes from being prepared for your negotiations.

Come prepared. Did you know that women are less likely to be considered the authority on a given subject? Put this sexist stereotype to rest and show your counterpart that you know exactly what you’re talking about! Thorough preparation can guard you against being taken advantage of in negotiation, enabling you to test your counterpart’s claims with ample research.

In addition to preparing for the subject matter(s) at issue, also be sure to include consideration of the 5 W’s as part of your preparation process. The 5 W’s are an integral part of my Art of Feminine Negotiation system and will give you a profound advantage when applied with intention. Grab your free copy of my 5 Secret Weapons to More Effective Negotiating book here.

Combine gender stereotypes. In her ground-breaking book Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg suggests that women are most successful in the workplace when they combine their stereotypically feminine attributes, like smiles and friendly gestures, with so-called masculine characteristics of assertiveness and independence. Harness the power of your femininity from a position of strength!

To be clear, I’m not suggesting you ‘act like a man’. Rather, embrace your feminine traits as your greatest strength. Bring rapport-building, empathy, flexibility, intuition and trust-building skills to the table. Own them. Use them with intention. Studies show that bringing these traits to your negotiations will get you better, more creative outcomes, build better relationships, get better buy-in and longer-lasting agreements with more positive impact.

See yourself as your own advocate: Women tend to negotiate more assertively for someone else because they feel more comfortable pushing for the good of others. If you had a child or a loved one in need, you would fight to get them what they deserve. I implore you to negotiate for yourself as passionately as you would advocate for someone else! Afford yourself the same courtesy and recognize your inherent value.

I hope you come away from this blog post feeling empowered to use gender biases to your full advantage in all your negotiations. If you’d like to learn more about my proven approach to effective negotiation, let’s talk today!

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Entrepreneurship Management Strategy

Fake It Until You Think You’re Making It: The Art of Living in Permanent Success Mode Note: This is the ninth out of ten sarcastic ways to redefine leadership

Fake It Until You Think You’re Making It

The Art of Living in Permanent Success Mode

Note: This is the ninth out of ten sarcastic ways to redefine leadership

Why limit yourself to “fake it till you make it” when you can simply… fake it forever? Why settle for just pretending until you reach your goal when you can convince yourself (and everyone else) that you’ve already arrived? Welcome to the glorious art of “Fake It Until You Think You’re Making It”—the only strategy with zero expiration date and infinite returns in self-confidence.

Live in a Reality of Your Own Creation

In this method, you get to exist in a world where you’re always on top, no matter what. Did you just Google your way through a meeting? Fantastic—you’re now an “expert.” Did you wing that presentation with nothing but jargon and a smile? Incredible—you’ve mastered public speaking. Why bother with the exhausting pursuit of actual expertise when you can just act the part? If you play the role long enough, who’s to say you’re not the real deal?

 

The Power of Self-Delusion: Believe It Hard Enough, and It Becomes True

Who needs tangible results when you’ve got ironclad self-delusion? The trick here is to believe in your own hype with such unshakable conviction that no one—least of all, you—questions it. Sure, some might call it denial, but in the world of “Fake It Until You Think You’re Making It,” it’s called confidence. And the best part? The deeper you dive into this self-constructed illusion, the more convinced you become that you’re exactly as brilliant as you claim to be.

Metrics and Progress Are for Amateurs

Who needs measurable goals or actual achievements when you’re already living the dream? Metrics are for people who want to track their improvement; in this reality, you’re already a smashing success. And progress? Totally unnecessary. Just announce that you’re doing fabulously well, and watch how quickly everyone buys into your story. Numbers, performance reviews, results—they’re all so overrated when you’re living in the unassailable bubble of your own imagination.

Construct an Identity and Defend It at All Costs

Once you’ve decided you’re a tech whiz, a sales guru, or a business mogul, there’s no going back. Surround yourself with the trappings of success: impressive jargon, a confident strut, and a carefully curated LinkedIn profile. Defend your constructed identity with vigor, especially against the occasional pesky facts that might suggest otherwise. After all, reality is only as real as you let it be.

Become the Role You’ve Decided You Are

Forget about qualifications and experience; you’ve already created your own credentials by just believing in them. If you decide you’re a “visionary,” then congratulations—you’re now a visionary. If you say you’re a “leader in your field,” who’s going to argue? Just make sure to adopt the right tone, sprinkle in buzzwords, and keep a straight face. In time, the act and the actor are indistinguishable. And really, isn’t that what success is all about?

The Beauty of Living in Perpetual Achievement

The best part about “Fake It Until You Think You’re Making It” is that there’s no endgame. Why stop once you reach a goal? Just keep setting new heights in your imagination and leap over them in style. Why aim for actual milestones when you can simply decide you’re at the top of your game, day after day? And if anyone asks for proof, just smile knowingly—they clearly don’t understand the higher plane of success you operate on.

Embrace the Fantasy and Make It Your Legacy

In the end, the genius of this method is that it offers the satisfaction of success without the hassle of actual hard work or proof. People may wonder how you got where you are, but that’s just part of the mystique. By the time they figure out you’ve been “faking it,” you’re already onto the next imaginary level of greatness. And let’s be honest—if you believe it hard enough, isn’t it kind of real?

So here’s to a life of perpetual self-celebration, where faking it has seamlessly transformed into being it. Why settle for competence or results when you can bask in the glow of your own undeniable brilliance, forever?

 

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Entrepreneurship Personal Development Women In Business

How to Use the Power of Open vs Closed Questions in Negotiations

Imagine you’re approaching your boss to request a salary increase. You probably have an ideal figure in mind, and you plan to present a convincing argument to build your case. You begin by listing each of your valuable qualities to show that you deserve higher pay. Eventually you hold your breath and ask one big question: Can you have a raise?

In this scenario, that single question yields an all-or-nothing response—and carries a high risk of rejection. What if you could act differently to be more certain that you’d actually get that raise when you asked for it? Could you change the conversation to increase the likelihood of achieving your desired outcome?

Rather than telling your boss why you’re an essential team member, what if you had asked questions that led them to that conclusion on their own? “Would you say I bring value to the company?” “Have you been pleased with my contributions?”

There’s incredible value in guiding the person you’re negotiating with to arrive at the answer you’re looking for—and the key is to ask the right questions.

The Power of Asking (Good) Questions During Negotiation

Asking questions is a lot like conducting a Google search. If you’re too specific, results may be scarce. If you’re too broad, results may be unhelpful or even erroneous. Typically, the most successful Google searches are somewhere in between these extremes and contain a couple keywords to lead you exactly where you want to be. I like to apply this same principle to asking questions during negotiation.

Negotiations depend on your ability to ask the right questions; otherwise, you risk losing common ground. Asking good questions ensures that both parties understand each other’s feelings, wants, and needs. The best negotiations inherently invite new and creative solutions, as rigid opinions and belief systems rarely lead to desired outcomes.

There are different types of questions to ask during a negotiation, but most fall into two main categories: open questions and closed questions.

Open Questions

An open question demands an explanatory response beyond “yes” or “no.” These types of questions are most useful when you need detailed information or when you want to keep the dialogue going and improve communication. Asking open questions also suggests that you’re interested in the other party’s opinions, in turn making you appear empathetic and understanding of their needs.

Here are common open questions to ask during a negotiation:

  • Why do you want/need this result?
  • What are you trying to accomplish or achieve?
  • How would you handle this situation?
  • How can we resolve this conflict?

Open questions invite thoughtful responses, so practice active listening, allow the other party to complete their thoughts before responding, and reflect back what you’ve heard in the most generous terms possible.

Closed Questions

Closed questions limit responses to a simple “yes” or “no.” These types of questions are ideal for framing dialogue to control or limit discussion. If you’re concerned that an open question will invite too many follow-up questions, consider using a closed question instead.

The true power of closed questions lies beyond generating succinct responses. When you’re strategic about the questions you ask, you can subtly guide the other party into generating the answer you’re looking for!

Using Closed Questions to Generate a “Yes” Response

Leading questions that invite a “yes” answer can help drive the other person toward providing the ultimate “yes” response you’re waiting for.

This theory is most successful when you know what the other person wants and can structure your leading questions accordingly. Psychologically, you want the other party to get in the rhythm of saying “yes” to build consensus. Sales people use this method routinely when they ask things like, “Do you like new cars? Do you want the best bang for your buck?” Yes, of course!

“Yes” questions might look like:

  • “I know you care about [some irrefutable need tied to the negotiation outcome]. Am I right?” YES! This question sets you up as the understanding questioner and the recipient as the hero.
  • “I’m sure you want [insert an obvious beneficial outcome or byproduct]. Would you agree?” YES! Again, the other party sees themself as magnanimous or benevolent.

After asking a series of leading questions, you can move on to the question you’re really driving at: “Would you agree that [insert your ultimate ask]?” YES! The recipient felt heard and was “pre-suaded” to give you the answer you sought.

Beware: a caveat to the “yes” approach is that it may induce an inauthentic, pressured “yes” if the recipient’s objections haven’t been adequately addressed, so make sure you let them clarify their needs.

Using Closed Questions to Generate a “No” Response

When you know the recipient is wary of saying “yes,” get them to say “no” first. I recommend this approach when it’s clear that the other party desires control or harbors suspicions. These types of people usually feel most comfortable saying “no” first in negotiations until they better understand who you are and what you want. Giving them the freedom of “no” answers helps them believe they’re in control of the conversation.

“No” questions might look like:

  • “You don’t care about [a less important aspect tied to the negotiation outcome]. Am I right?” NO! This question allows the recipient to vocalize their opinion while leaving both parties in complete agreement and understanding.
  • “I’m sure you don’t want [insert an obvious negative outcome or byproduct]. Would you agree?” NO! Again, the other party appears to be in control, but you’ve actually manufactured this interaction.

There will of course be times when you receive a “no” response that catches you off guard—one that you weren’t deliberately coaxing yourself. When that happens, be sure to ask follow-up questions: “What would it take to make this a ‘yes’ for you?” “What about this doesn’t sit right with you?” These questions give you the opportunity to gather valuable information and reach better outcomes.

Remember that an unwanted “no” is not necessarily the end of a negotiation. In fact, some people believe “no” puts them in control at the start of a negotiation, ultimately providing them a source of permission and comfort. Learn to hear “no” as a negotiator: desensitize yourself to this word and embrace it as an opportunity!

Determining the Right Type of Question to Ask  During Negotiations

The ideal question to ask varies greatly depending on the situation, but your end goal is always to reach consensus. Ideally you should drive the recipient to a series of “yes” questions, but if you know the other party doesn’t trust you or needs to be in control, allow them the luxury of a few “no’s”.

Regardless of the questions you choose, ask with intention and know the outcome you’re looking for. I’m confident that with this approach, you’ll be successful in your next negotiation, whether you’re asking for a salary increase or anything else that gets you closer to what you know you deserve.

Let’s keep the questions coming! Join the Women on Purpose Facebook group and let me know what questions you have about negotiation. I’ll personally answer every one.

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Entrepreneurship Personal Development Women In Business

How Active Listening Makes You a More Effective Negotiator

Have you ever told a story that means something to you, only to realize the person you were speaking to was looking at their phone the whole time, not paying attention to a word you said? You probably felt like they didn’t value you or care about what was important to you. You’re not alone. It can be infuriating!

Distracted behavior in an everyday conversation is frustrating and disappointing, but during an important negotiation the consequences can be dire. This holds true for your personal and professional negotiations, whether you’re bargaining over what movie to watch with the kids or negotiating multi-million dollar business deals.

Listening intently is especially vital in professional settings where success directly depends on the ability to communicate effectively. This skill is at the heart of HERsuasion™: the Art of Feminine Negotiation.  When we practice active listening, we tune out all of the distractions surrounding us, allowing us to focus on ensuring the other person feels truly heard and understood. Ultimately, this critical skill gives you the edge in any negotiation.

What Is Passive vs. Active Listening

Listening demands silence: you literally have to stop talking in order to observe the other person in the conversation. While receiving information itself requires temporarily taking on a passive role, the active part of listening refers to how you respond to that information.

Passive listening involves paying attention to the words the speaker uses (and doesn’t use), remaining open to new ideas and perspectives, reserving judgment, and devoting your attention to the speaker without anticipating when it’s your “turn” to respond. It’s harder than it sounds—especially since we’re conditioned to make immediate assumptions and judgments.

Active listening involves reflecting what someone is saying back to them to deepen your understanding and show that you’ve been paying attention. When you paraphrase a speaker’s words, ask for clarification, and remain open to feedback, you’re practicing forms of active listening.

Elevated active listening, which is a key element of HERsuasion™, kicks the art of listening up a notch. When you replay back the other person’s viewpoint to them as you understood it, be intentional about framing their point of view in the most generous terms possible. Make their argument even more eloquently or persuasively than they did themselves. While this may see counter-intuitive, it can be a powerful way to build rapport and trust, both key elements to getting better buy-in and more creative outcomes.

Strong active listeners form a thorough understanding of what other people are saying and in turn make them feel seen, heard, and understood.

How to Become a Better Listener

Becoming a better listener begins with paying attention to the person who’s talking to you. The trick here is to focus on nonverbal cues like tone of voice, body language, facial expressions, and momentum of speech. These nonverbal cues hint at the speaker’s attitude, positioning us to empathize and meet them at their level. Picking up on whether someone is frustrated, resistant, or cheerful allows us to adapt as listeners and negotiators.

Believe it or not, noticing nonverbal cues is a lot less complicated than it sounds. You know more than you think you do! Research suggests that even babies too young to master language have a basic understanding of nonverbal communication.

Beyond focusing on the speaker, be intentional with your own behaviors to show you’re engaged in the conversation even if you’re not speaking:

Show interest. The speaker wants to know you’re engaged, so use body language that demonstrates attentiveness, like leaning in, smiling, and nodding. Face the person you’re talking to directly, rather than turning away from them. Consider your arms: are they crossed or relaxed? Rely on your own body language to communicate interest but be cautious: fidgeting can be perceived as impatience, disinterest, or even disrespect, so try to keep your body fairly still.

Make appropriate eye contact. Eye contact suggests that you’re focused. Try to make consistent eye contact without lingering or staring, as that can be awkward or intimidating. Importantly, note the speaker’s eye contact. If they avoid looking you directly in the eye, they may be sensitive or uncomfortable. Shifting their gaze might better allow them to process information. The more you can observe and adapt, the better the conversation will go.

Avoid interruptions and distractions. Interruptions like clicking your pen or checking your phone immediately disrupt the flow of conversation. Remove all possible physical disruptions. Additionally, avoid imposing your views or suggestions when the speaker is still taking their turn. Interjecting your own words can throw someone off balance and distract them from completing a thought.

Be comfortable with silence. Always pause to allow the speaker (and yourself!) to collect their thoughts. Conversations and negotiations should not be verbal sparring matches: you don’t always have to jump in, reply, or comment. Providing a moment of grace can even work to your advantage. Let the other person divulge their solutions, ideas, thoughts, and concerns before you give up yours.

Accommodate different learning styles. Everyone absorbs information differently. Acknowledge auditory, visual, verbal, or kinesthetic learners by attending to their specific learning style and meeting them on their level. Some people are quick to absorb new concepts, while others may take more time to process information. Be respectful of their needs. Likewise, avoid the urge to conclude people’s thoughts and ideas for them. Trying to help somebody along might actually stifle their self-expression.

Enforce the 80/20 rule. Listen, listen, listen! As a rule of thumb, 80% of your conversation should involve you listening to the other person compared to just 20% talking. Devote the majority of your conversation to listening, observing those critical nonverbal cues, and confirming your understanding of the speaker’s point of view.

Once you’ve listened and absorbed the speaker’s ideas, look for opportunities to build onto what they’ve said before sharing your own perspective and ideas. The speaker will feel respected and heard—and that will reflect positively on your patience and empathy.

The Value of Listening in Negotiation

The most valuable tool in negotiation is the ability to truly understand the other person’s needs and desires. To get what you want, you must know what drives you (what I call your “why”) and balance that against the other person’s desires (their “why”).

An expert negotiator listens intently to the other person’s “why” and capitalizes on its intersection with their own “why.”

Traditional workplace environments celebrate a confrontational negotiation style that’s inherently combative. People make the mistake of assuming they know the other person’s intentions and then communicate without really ever listening. Neither party feels heard, minimizing the chances of reaching a solution even when one is readily available.

In my free No F.E.A.R Negotiation eBook, I outline steps to approaching negotiation without Fear, Ego, Attachment, or Reactivity (F.E.A.R). One of the classic ways Ego presents itself is talking too much instead of listening. Rambling on is troubling for a number of reasons, as it can suggest uncertainty or even monopolization of a topic. If you’re talking too much, you aren’t listening, and you certainly aren’t negotiating on the winning side.

Salesforce survey shows that business leaders attract more support when they empower their employees by listening and making them feel heard. There are enormous benefits to demonstrating that you can listen. We all want to know that our position is being thoughtfully considered and respected!

The better you understand what someone else wants, the more skillfully you can negotiate. Practicing active listening ensures that you always know where the other party stands. Want to learn more? Download my No F.E.A.R Negotiation eBook or reach out directly for a consultation!

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Entrepreneurship Management Wealth

Hypnotic Rhythm – The cycle of our Lives

Mastermind and Sunday Book Club – Hypnotic Rhythm

What if you could make a leap as bold as a cat —in just 30 days. Imagine transforming your life in just one month, all by committing to powerful habits and a focused mindset.

This journey isn’t about taking small steps but building the mindset, habits, and skills necessary for a lasting change. A 30-day commitment can shift the course of your life, helping you achieve the success you’ve always dreamed of.

This is easy to do and get started with anything new however, sticking with it is the problem. We drift, we wonder, we start new stuff, and get distracted with the shiny object. I know for sure you have started many things, many books, many courses and you probably didn’t finish them.

How about you change that this year?
What if there is a way to get back aligned with your hopes, dreams, and aspirations, and you stop drifting.

We are studying a book in the Mastermind and Sunday Book Club, this book is a version of “Outwitting the Devil” by Napoleon Hill and it is clearly something that is relevant to this day.

Here is an excerpt of Napoleon Hills book:

Question
WHAT IS THIS MYSTERIOUS LAW through which you take permanent control of people’s bodies even before you take over their souls? The whole world will want to know more about this law and how it operates.

Answer
It will be hard to describe the law so you will understand it, but you may call it “hypnotic rhythm.” It is the same law through which people can be hypnotized.

What is this mysterious law:
As I have already stated, there is a universal form of energy with which nature keeps a perfect balance between all matter and energy. She makes specialized use of this universal building material by breaking it up into different wavelengths. The breaking-up process is carried on through habit.

You will better understand what I am trying to convey if I compare it with the method by which one learns to play music.
At first the notes are memorized in the mind. Then they are related to one another through melody and rhythm. By repetition the melody and rhythm become fixed in the mind. Observe how relentlessly the musician must repeat a tune before he/she masters it. Through repetition the musical notes blend and
then you have music.
Any impulse of thought that the mind repeats over and over through habit forms an organized rhythm. Undesirable habits can be broken. They must be broken before they assume the proportions of rhythm. Are you following me?

So, if you ever feel like you’re meant for something bigger, something just out of reach? You’re not alone. We all feel that pull — that quiet urge to push past where we are and find our true potential. It’s a call worth listening to.

To overcome this and have the confidence you need, there are three Principles for Finding Your Path:

#1 – The Mastermind Principle (you’re invited every Sunday)
Success is a team effort. Surround yourself with people who lift you up and believe in your dreams.
#2 – Definite Purpose (do you have one?)
Be clear and specific. Visualize what you truly want, and let that vision drive you every day.
#3 – Profiting from Failures (how do you feel after failing?)
Setbacks hurt, but they’re stepping stones to growth. Each failure can open doors to even greater success.

If you’re ready to explore what’s next, let’s take that step together. Hit reply and share which principle resonates with you most.

I am cheering for you.

Love and abundance is your birthright, claim it.

Kamal El-Rassi, MBA

askelrassi.com/nextlevel

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Entrepreneurship Personal Development Women In Business

How to Use the True Power of Feminine Energy in the Workplace

Envision a scenario in which two equally capable women enter a boardroom to compete for a potential new client.

Woman 1 is bold and assertive, taking control of the situation to make sure that she pitches first. She neatly outlines a carefully developed plan and emphasizes that she can work independently.

Woman 2 waits patiently for Woman 1 to finish, listening intently and observing the potential client’s reactions. When it’s her turn, she begins by first asking the client for their ideas, hopes, and concerns for his business. She absorbs this information and offers a flexible, collaborative approach to solving the client’s problems and building a trusting, professional relationship.

Did you notice the difference between these two approaches? Which woman do you think made a better impression?

Woman 1 chose a traditionally masculine approach, using her dominant energy to take charge of the pitch and drive her proposal forward. Woman 2 used an entirely different technique, leaning into her feminine energy to listen and collaborate with the client throughout the proposal process.

As a negotiation expert and coach for ambitious women, I’m often challenged to explain the concept of a masculine versus feminine negotiating style. I want to convey first and foremost that the way I see it, the terms masculine and feminine have very little to do with gender itself. Rather, we all have masculine and feminine energy that we can tap into depending on our mindset—we simply have to learn when and how to access that energy to our full advantage.

(Truthfully, I believe these gendered terms will soon become anachronisms. Society is gradually starting to distance itself from gender norms taking a much more inclusive, gender-neutral view of the world. But that’s a topic for a different day. For now, “masculine” and “feminine” are the terms we have, so we must use them accordingly.)

Using Masculine and Feminine Energy in the Workplace

Society has always framed negotiation in favor of masculinity, perpetuating the assumption that traits like aggressiveness and competition are inevitable harbingers of success. If you think about it, women were excluded from many professional settings until fairly recently, leaving men to establish these environments in accordance with their traditionally “male” characteristics.

Unfortunately, these masculine characteristics still dominate the workplace, conditioning men and women to eschew feminine negotiating traits like rapport building, empathy, and flexibility for the sake of conforming to society’s male-centric business culture. While the push toward gender equality in the workplace has made incredible strides in the past several decades, feminine energy remains significantly devalued in comparison to masculine energy.

And yet, regardless of what we’ve all learned to accept as the norm, the fact is that feminine traits are immensely valuable—especially in the workplace.

The Power of Feminine Energy in the Workplace

Feminine qualities are key to successful negotiations. But don’t just take my word for it. Let the research speak for itself.

In The Athena Doctrine: How Women (and the Men who Think Like Them) Will Rule the World, John Gerzema and Michael D’Antonio expertly detail an important, wide-ranging study asking a diverse set of people to qualify values and leadership traits as masculine, feminine, or neutral. Their findings unequivocally reveal that traditionally feminine traits are considered more advantageous in business settings than the “macho paradigm” (their words!) typically associated with negotiating.

The study showed that instead of masculine assertiveness and competition, people actually value cooperation, long-term thinking, and flexibility in negotiation—traditionally feminine traits that were previously perceived as weaknesses in the business world.

Looking back at our example of the two women competing for a potential new client, it’s clear that Woman 2 was onto something when she opted for a more traditionally feminine approach!

How does it feel to learn that the feminine energy you’ve been conditioned to suppress in professional settings is ostensibly more valuable than the masculine energy you’ve struggled to emanate and express? Liberating, isn’t it? This realization was certainly a game-changer for me personally and professionally, and it inspired me to launch Women on Purpose.

Now, it’s my mission to encourage women and men alike to shift their thinking from the masculine, competitive, tough mindset to a softer, feminine mentality of building bridges, collaboration, and trust.

Using Feminine Qualities to Your Advantage in Negotiation

We all have masculine and feminine qualities—and both can be valuable when negotiating for what we want. So let go of those sexist stereotypes trying to convince you that femininity is synonymous with weakness, and start recognizing your feminine traits for what they really are: your greatest strengths.

Reclaiming your feminine energy in the workplace will help you:

Get better results. People are inclined to negotiate with someone who is cooperative. When you show that you’re flexible and open to new ideas, you form stronger professional relationships and build trust quickly.

Find more creative solutions. We harness our feminine energy when we forge alliances and emphasize teamwork. Collaboration opens us to ideas we may not have generated on our own, ultimately yielding the best outcomes.

Make the world a better place. When we stifle our feminine energy, we pigeonhole ourselves and limit our potential—and that applies outside the workplace, too! Flexibility, cooperation, and empathy are immensely valuable in bringing people together as a force for good.

Are you ready to reclaim the true power of your feminine qualities in the workplace and beyond? Let’s connect to discuss more strategies for using feminine energy to your advantage!

Categories
Entrepreneurship Personal Development Women In Business

Using Concessions to Your Advantage in Negotiations

Have you been conditioned to believe that concessions—trade-offs that involve conceding or compromising during a negotiation—are signs of weakness? It’s time to dispel this myth once and for all.

Effective negotiation is a dynamic process of give and take. While it’s true that concession is the act of yielding, skilled negotiators strategically plan for this inevitability.

As with most aspects of negotiation, your intention is the key to success. When you’re proactive and plan in advance, you’ll avoid being caught off guard and yielding the wrong things.

First Things First: Know Your BATNA

Before entering any negotiation, it’s important to know your BATNA (Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement). Identifying your BATNA gives you a clear sense of your options in the event that you don’t get a deal.

To see what a BATNA looks like in action, let’s take the example of shopping for a new item that’s a pretty big investment: a car, appliance, even a pair of designer shoes!

When you’re making a major purchase, you’ll typically look at a number of factors—with price being a major point of consideration. If the item you’re looking to purchase has an offered price that’s above the price you know you can get elsewhere, then you potentially have a strong BATNA.

Notice that I used the word potentially. Why? Because price isn’t the only factor that matters! People often get stuck on comparing only price and end up walking away when in fact their BATNA isn’t as strong as they initially thought it was.

Say you’re purchasing a washing machine and trying to decide between two competitors. Machine A is $1,000 and Machine B is $1,200. On its face, it looks like Machine A is a better deal. Conventional BATNA wisdom advises that if you’re negotiating for Machine B, you know that Machine A is your BATNA. According to this approach, if you can’t get the price for Machine B below $1,000, then you can walk away knowing your best alternative is better.

Well, I say to heck with conventional wisdom! Price shouldn’t be your only consideration in determining your BATNA. Machine A may cost $200 less, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the better deal. What if Machine B comes from a trusted supplier, offers a better warranty, and has a special delicate cycle so that you won’t have to hand-wash your intimates ever again? Those factors alone may be worth $200!

Ultimately, that’s for you to decide. BATNA can be very personal—and there’s no right or wrong answer. What constitutes a best alternative for you will depend on how you weigh the various factors at play.

So, how do you determine your BATNA? 

It’s important to do your homework. Ideally before any negotiation, you’ll contemplate, explore, and list all the alternatives available to you if the negotiation fails. You’ll evaluate these options and pick the one that would provide the best overall value to you. Now that you have your BATNA, you can meaningfully set your bottom line.

When used effectively, BATNAs provide significant bargaining power—but that power goes both ways, so consider the other side’s BATNA as well.

How to Effectively Use Concessions in Negotiations 

Once you’ve figured out your BATNA, you’ll be in a much better position to plan your concession strategy and ultimately get what you want:

    • Consider the “why.” During the give-and-take of negotiation, there will likely be trade-offs on both sides. Consider priorities—not only yours, but the other party’s as well. Similarly, consider the “why:” the emotional underpinning that motivates you and the person you’re negotiating with. What concessions can you afford to give without losing your needs? How can you meet the other side’s “why” without sacrificing your own?
    • Time concessions strategically. Many negotiation instructors will tell you to always make the other side give the first concession, but my approach to timing is different: so long as you’ve done your work in advance and planned for your concessions mindfully, it’s okay to vary the timing. There are even situations when it may be more effective to offer the first concession. Either way, when your position is strong and you’re well-prepared for the negotiation, nobody is going to move you unless you want to be moved.
    • Pace yourself. Studies suggest that people react more favorably to concessions that are doled out in increments rather than all at once, so avoid giving all your concessions too early. Keep some in your back pocket to produce as trade-offs for something important that may come up during the negotiation. You should also avoid offering too big a concession too early in the negotiation. This common mistake can signal that you don’t believe your own demands are realistic.

  • Make sure there’s reciprocity. Is the other side giving concessions to match yours? Women often make the mistake of expecting others to know what we want and need, and this assumption usually results in us getting neither. So don’t be afraid to ask for reciprocity—especially if the other side isn’t volunteering it! Express what you want. Identify your concession and suggest an appropriate reciprocal concession. Unless you have a good tactical reason to do so, never give back-to-back concessions without anything in return.
  • Offer contingent concessions. If you’re uncertain that your bargaining partner will reciprocate, signal that you’re prepared to give x if they’re prepared to give or do y. When used sparingly, contingent concessions can build trust and credibility to help move the negotiation forward.

These tips will give you the foundation to start using concessions to your advantage. Above all else, remember to be intentional in how you handle your concessions. I have full confidence that when you plan ahead and harness your true intentions, you’ll be successful in your next negotiation.

Want to learn more negotiation strategies for getting what you deserve in life?

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Entrepreneurship Personal Development Women In Business

4 Steps To Stop Burnout And Bring The Passion Back Into Your Law Practice

So you’re the star lawyer in your firm. You win 90% of your cases; you’re an amazing negotiator, and you’re planning to make partner this year. You make pulling all-nighters look so easy.

But perhaps you’re harboring a secret: under the cool veneer, you’re starting to crack. You’re waking up every morning feeling exhausted instead of refreshed. Your fuse seems to be shorter and shorter; you’re irritable more days than not.

If working hours have taken over the time you used to spend with your family, friends, or taking care of yourself, if you constantly feel listless, tired, stressed, depressed, or dispassionate about work, chances are you’re headed for—or have already arrived at—burnout.

Burnout: A Modern Day Disease

Believe it or not, burnout has made it to the 11th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). Described as an “occupational phenomenon,” it is characterized by “feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion; increased mental distance from one’s job…and reduced professional efficacy.”

Burnout in women in the law practice is also prevalent. Although more women than men enter the field of law today, women also leave at double the rate that men do. Only 19% of women become equity partners in their firms—and burnout is no doubt a contributing factor.

I’ve been a social justice attorney for over 30 years, and I’ve been where you are. I’ve been caught in a cycle of work and stress, constantly pushing myself to maintain my “high performer” status. The elephant in the room, of course, is that it isn’t just the long hours that drain you. It’s living and working within that traditional competitive model, clawing your way to the top, feeling like you have to be better than the next person to be worth anything at all. It’s inauthentic and utterly exhausting.

And I know firsthand what that lifestyle costs. Physically, mentally, emotionally: the price is too high.

So how do we stop burning the candle at both ends?

4 Steps to Prevent or Recover from Burnout

  1. Make sleep mandatory. When you’re working on a settlement for your clients, there are some items that you can’t budge on. In your personal life, sleep should be one of them. Research has shown that adults need 7-8 hours of sleep every night to perform at optimal levels. Sleep isn’t a “nice to have,” it’s a “must have” to ensure that you’re mentally sharp, thinking clearly, and supporting your physical health. . So, take care of yourself: eat right, sleep right, make time for exercise. You have one body, one life: give it the best care.
  2. Rediscover what you love about the law. If you’re pushing yourself too hard, that career you were so passionate about can become just a J-O-B. Reflect on why you fell in love with the law in the first place? Was it being able to help the underprivileged and marginalized? Was it the thrill of arguing your case in court? Reconnecting with that spark can help you work in a way that feels more aligned with your love for the law.
  3. Understand the price you’re paying. Work demands can seem both urgent and important, which often means that we prioritize them over other things that matter a great deal: health and relationships. Think about what your current lifestyle is really costing you. You may be spinning into burnout because you think that’s the only way to get ahead. But there’s a better way, which leads to . . .
  4. Reframe what’s possible. You might be heading into burnout because you believe it’s the only way to win. I’m here to tell you that you’re buying into a myth. That myth is founded on an overly aggressive, traditionally “masculine” approach to work. And because we’ve been conditioned by society, we’ve all unconsciously believed that approach is the only way to get ahead. It’s time to reframe the path to success.

Reframing the path to success is exactly what I teach through the Art of Feminine Negotiation. Instead of spiraling into burnout, I help professional women reclaim their purpose. And I show them how to get what they want with techniques to negotiate the practice of law and their life that are more aligned with who they are. But it’s not just about feeling better. These techniques are more effective than traditional, more aggressive negotiation techniques. They yield superior results: more creative outcomes, better buy-in, longer-lasting agreements, stronger relationships and more positive impact overall, both personally and professionally … without the exhaustion that comes from fighting all the time.

All of life is a negotiation. But your health and relationships don’t need to be on the losing side in order for your career to advance. There’s a better way to get what you want without compromising yourself in the process. Connect with me to learn more.

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Entrepreneurship Personal Development Women In Business

6 Practical Ways to Feel Less Overwhelmed at Work

Negotiate What You’ll Tolerate in Your Career—and What You Won’t

Have you ever had a moment where the constant ringing or pinging of your phone makes you want to toss it out the window?

The pressures of a demanding job are stressful enough during “normal” times. Compounded with the challenges of a pandemic that has disproportionately impacted women, it’s easy to feel like you’re drowning with no rescue in sight.

Boundaries between work and home life are more blurred than ever, with many women working and living in the same space. And when you’re hooked into work every moment of the day (and night), the demands of email, Zooms, phone calls, and Slack are a never-ending burden.

Constrictive Gender Norms Pressure Women to “Do It All”

Women tend to accept the inevitability of impossible deadlines and a mounting to-do list, weighed down in part by the old, sexist mantra that a woman must work twice as hard as a man to achieve the same recognition and respect. We’ve been conditioned to do everything: from working a full-time job to running the house to looking after the kids.

While it can feel like a badge of honor to keep all those balls in the air, your beliefs may be holding you back from setting reasonable expectations for your workload. That’s right: the first step in dealing with overwhelm at work isn’t to cut your hours, ask for more time off, or ask your manager to revise your job description. Those asks can be an extremely important part of your plan to negotiate what you’ll tolerate in your career, but the first negotiation you need to have is with yourself.

Renegotiating Your Mindset About Your Career

I’ve written a whole series about negotiating your mindset, and how your negotiation with yourself is truly the most important one you’ll ever have. Before you can go to your employer, or your clients, and ask to make a change in your relationship with them, you need to understand what it is that you really want.

In other words, what are you willing to tolerate at work? Are you willing to work weekends so you have flexibility during the week to go to your favorite yoga class? Are you willing to take early morning calls as long as you can pick your kid up from daycare by 3 pm? Are you willing to spend 20% of your time on administrative tasks that bog you down as long as 80% of your time is spent doing fulfilling work you really love? The answers will be different for everyone.

I’d also invite you to consider what you won’t tolerate: more work than you can reasonably handle, unrealistic expectations about deadlines, colleagues and managers who don’t treat you respectfully.

And finally, bring your negotiation back to how you treat yourself. Can you give yourself permission to not say yes to every request you get from your team? To be less than 100% polished and prepared every now and then? If so, you’re in the right headspace to take tactical steps toward negotiating a work life that’s less stressful and more enjoyable.

6 Practical Ways to Feel Less Overwhelmed at Work

There are practical ways to manage work-related stress and burnout, from mindful coping mechanisms that get you through a tough day to holistic preventative solutions. These tips will help you negotiate work life, home life, and even some time for yourself.

I advise the powerful women I coach to:

  • Practice mindful breathing. Focusing your attention on your breath is one of the most powerful ways to ground yourself when you’re feeling overwhelmed. Best of all, you can practice this calming technique right in the middle of the office and your colleagues will be none the wiser! In my programs, I teach the 4x4x4x4 technique, otherwise known as box breathing: breathe in for four counts, hold for four counts, exhale for four counts, hold for four counts, repeat.
  • Get out in nature. When you’re struggling to find calm within yourself, getting out in nature can help you find your center—and you only need five minutes to reap the stress-reducing benefits! Touch a tree or feel the grass with your bare feet. This tactile sensation reconnects you with the earth, literally grounding you and producing feelings of deep relaxation.
  • Create a plan of action. When you work a demanding job, it can be hard to step back and look at the bigger picture, but setting aside time to plan will actually help make you more efficient. It will make it easier for you to stay focused on your priorities instead of inadvertently taking on somebody else’s agenda. You’ll also train your mind to focus on the positives and set achievable goals.
  • Use the 80/20 rule. Once you’ve figured out your plan of action, use the 80/20 rule to prioritize tasks that have the greatest impact on your future. The idea is that 20% of the activities we do stand for 80% of the results we produce. For example, if you have a list of 10 actions, 2 of those actions will have a more significant effect on your future than the other 8 combined. Start by identifying a high-priority task and commit to completing it.
  • Delegate your work. Women often fall into the trap of taking on more than they can practically handle—at work and at home. While it can be empowering to feel like you’re superwoman, trying to do too much easily leads to burnout. Passing on tasks that you know someone else can accomplish frees up your time and your mind.
  • Eliminate what isn’t necessary. Do you really need to complete your to-do list today? You can feel a sense of failure if you don’t finish everything you have written down. If the work you have to complete isn’t urgent and time-sensitive, give yourself a moment to come up for air.

Tapping into your own natural skills to negotiate your work-life balance can ease the feeling of being overwhelmed, empowering you to push past limiting beliefs that may be holding back your potential. You’ll probably even feel less inclined to throw your phone out the window!

If you’d like additional guidance on reclaiming your power, let’s connect. I can’t wait to hear from you.

Categories
Growth Operations Strategy

“Backtracking to the Future: A Strategic Guide to Outcome-Oriented Backcasting”

Backtracking to the Future: A Strategic Guide to Outcome-Oriented Backcasting

Dr. Stephen R. Covey’s well-known advice to “Begin with the End in Mind” is a foundational principle for strategic planning, offering a clear vision for both leadership and personal development. When leaders apply an outcome-oriented backcasting approach, they unlock a powerful tool for achieving long-term goals. This method involves starting with the desired end result and systematically mapping out the steps necessary to reach it. By working backward from the goal, leaders gain valuable insights that might otherwise be overlooked when using traditional planning methods.

Outcome-oriented backcasting is not only effective for organizational strategy but also highly applicable to career development. For instance, by defining the ultimate career milestones—whether it’s securing a specific role, attaining certain achievements, or mastering key competencies—individuals can better chart the course needed to reach those milestones. This process requires identifying the skills, experiences, and positions necessary to achieve the desired end-state and then working in reverse to create a clear and actionable plan. This approach not only provides clarity but also helps avoid unnecessary detours that can delay progress.

The power of outcome-oriented backcasting extends to skill development as well. In any field, understanding the sequence of actions required to develop a particular skill is essential. This is where the value of subject matter experts comes into play. Experts who have already mastered the skill can deconstruct it, identifying the key sub-skills and practices needed to achieve proficiency. By examining these elements from the endpoint—where the skill is fully developed—back to the foundational steps, one can gain a deep understanding of what is truly necessary for growth. This reverse methodology can sometimes accelerate skill development by focusing on advanced techniques earlier in the learning process.

Among the various applications of outcome-oriented backcasting, its use in decision-making analysis stands out as particularly effective. When reviewing decisions, starting from the final outcome and working backward through each sub-decision offers a clear perspective on what contributed to success or failure. This method allows leaders to identify the key decisions that drove the end result and understand which strategies are worth replicating in the future. By dissecting the decision-making process in reverse, leaders can avoid repeating past mistakes and reinforce the positive actions that lead to successful outcomes.

Incorporating outcome-oriented backcasting into various processes not only sharpens clarity but also provides a significant advantage in achieving desired outcomes. By starting with the conclusion and methodically tracing the path back to the present, organizations and individuals can navigate challenges more effectively. The clarity provided by this approach can be transformative, enabling more precise planning and execution.

Moreover, because many do not naturally operate in reverse, embracing outcome-oriented backcasting can offer a distinct competitive edge. This methodology stands out for its ability to bring a fresh perspective to planning and decision-making. By beginning with the end in mind and using outcome-oriented backcasting, leaders and high performers can better chart a course that is both strategic and informed, setting themselves apart in their respective fields.