Mastering Negotiation: Ask for More, Get What You Deserve
- Gina Martin
- Apr 11
- 3 min read
Negotiation isn't just a skill; it's a leadership practice. It's how high-achievers, entrepreneurs, and executives claim their space, communicate their value, and shape the careers and businesses they truly want.
But here's the hard truth:
You don't get what you deserve. You get what you ask for.
And for many of the driven professionals I coach, that ask doesn't come easily. There's often a fear of seeming too much, too bold, or too demanding. I know that fear well because I used to carry it, too.
Early in my career, I didn't speak up. I over-delivered and under-asked. I stayed quiet in rooms where I had something to say. Everything changed when I finally found the courage to negotiate my first executive role. I walked in prepared and clear on the value I brought and walked out with a more significant role, more money, and, most importantly, the respect I had consistently earned.
That moment wasn't just a win. It was a shift.
I realized that negotiation isn't confrontation. It's leadership. It's advocacy. It's alignment.
Here's what I now teach high-performing professionals, leaders in transition, and bold entrepreneurs ready to own their worth and scale their impact:
1. Get Clear on Your Value
Before you enter any negotiation, anchor yourself in your own impact. This isn't about fluff or buzzwords, it's about the receipts.
What measurable results have you delivered?
How have you elevated your team, your clients, or your business?
What would be missing if you weren't at that table?
When I coach clients, we spend time identifying their wins and their why because when you know your worth, you speak with clarity, not conviction.
2. Know What You Want and Why
The most successful leaders I work with don't show up to a negotiation hoping to see what happens. They know what they're there for.
Clarity is your currency, whether it is compensation, flexibility, partnership equity, or project leadership.
Ask yourself:
What am I asking for?
Why is it important to me, my goals, and my growth?
Where am I willing to flex, and where am I holding firm?
If you're vague, you give your power away.
3. Practice the Pause
One of the most effective tools I've used in negotiations—personally and professionally—is the pause. Say your ask and then pause.
That space is powerful. It signals confidence, invites a real response, and keeps you in the driver's seat. Overexplaining is rooted in insecurity, while silence is rooted in strength.
4. Ditch the Guilt. Own the Ask.
So many of my clients, especially women leaders, hesitate to ask for more because they fear being seen as greedy or difficult. Let me say this clearly:
Advocating for yourself is not selfish. It's strategic.
And the more you do it, the more you model what's possible for others around you. Asking for more isn't about taking from others. It's about creating alignment between what you give and what you receive. That's leadership.
5. Negotiate Beyond Money
Don't stop at a salary. Some of the most impactful negotiations I've helped clients navigate had nothing to do with money. They were about how they wanted to work and lead.
Negotiate for:
Time: boundaries, flexible schedules, recovery days
Visibility: opportunities to lead, speak, and contribute at a higher level
Support: coaching, mentorship, team resources
You are allowed to ask for what you need to thrive.
The Challenge: Flex the Muscle
Negotiation is a muscle; like any leadership habit, it strengthens with practice.
This week, I challenge you to identify one thing you're ready to negotiate. It could be a rate, a boundary, a speaking opportunity, or a change in your role.
Start small if you need to, but start. Your voice gets stronger every time you use it.
Because here's the truth: When you learn to ask for more, you don't just raise your own ceiling; you permit others to rise with you.
What is one thing you are looking to negotiate in the next 30 days?
What strategy from what I shared will help you negotiate from a place of power?
Comment below.
With Love,
Gina
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