This guest post from Christine Ko, my co-author for our latest salary negotiation book, Five Minutes to a Higher Salary.
Negotiate In Person
Pros
- Gauge other party’s reactions
- Often the fastest form of negotiation
- Can use subtle negotiation tactics like leveraging silence
Cons
- The other party can see your reactions
- You could feel or seem nervous
- You might give in to their subtle negotiation tactics and leave money on the table
- Might take time to arrange a meeting
- Can’t read from a script or risk looking like an unskilled negotiator
- Can be interrupted by the other party
- Might forget talking points or be unable to say everything you wanted
Who should use this method?
- People who are comfortable with negotiation and are confident in their arguments and skills.
- People who need fast answers
Negotiate Over the Phone
Pros
- Still hear the reactions of the other party
- Can use a script/talking points more easily
- Can talk long distance
- Can arrange a phone call quickly
- Negotiations will end more quickly than over email
Cons
- Might run into connection problems
- You might feel and sound nervous
- Can be interrupted by other party
- May not be able to say everything you wanted
Who should use this method?
- People who still want to try traditional negotiation tactics but need still need guidance from a script
- People who can’t meet with their recruiter directly because of distance
Negotiate Via Email
Pros
- Can choose specific words to say
- Can make sure to include every argument you want to
Cons
- Will take longer for a response and a conclusion
- Cannot take into account the other party’s reactions
Who should use this method?
- People uncomfortable with direct negotiation
- People who want to make sure that their request includes everything important