I’ve had the great fortune of being able to help people in their careers. And one of the most challenging topics for many is salary negotiation. So much so that nearly 75% of people choose not to negotiate their salary – regardless of the fact that negotiation is one of the best ways to create an even stronger mutual bond between the employee and the company.
The challenge is that we don’t like salary negotiation. It seems confrontational, and we often lack the confidence to clearly articulate the value we bring. But that is because we are looking through the wrong lens. We believe the company has what we need: the job.
That one belief leads to losing out on so much opportunity – both in terms of creating stronger connections between us, our manager, and the company – as well in terms of total compensation. But there is another way of looking at the company that dramatically changes everything. This one mindset shift has transformed the lives of many people.
The company needs what I have.
This is not an arrogant, condescending belief – rather, it is an honest assessment of one’s skills and the ability to parlay those skills into helping the company be more remarkable. In fact, the company would not have made an offer for hire – or maintain employment – if that weren’t true.
Once people make that mindset shift, their entire worldview changes. Their subconscious focus is on positively impacting the company, and their contributions far exceed those of their limiting-mindset peers.
Sadly, in so many aspects of our lives, we choose such a limiting mindset. In order for me to be happy, I need …
- A significant other who honors and respects me
- My bank account to be at a certain amount
- My boss to behave more fairly and kindly
- My body to look as such
- My family to be less dysfunctional
- Ad infinitum …
In other words, we believe our happiness depends on externals without ever realizing that we have it completely backwards.
The world you see is what you gave it, nothing more than that. It is the witness to your state of mind, the outside picture of an inward condition. (T-21.in.1)
Change but your mind on what you want to see, and all the world must change accordingly. (W-pI.132.5)
Once we make that mindset shift, the world looks radically different and we begin experiencing joy in every encounter.
Join us in Monday’s class where we’ll explore this mindset shift and how we can practice such an expansive philosophy. I look forward to seeing you then.