Ted Audio Collective.

collective.

I have a very clear memory of one of my first negotiations,

and it's because I was so nervous. It was my first time doing

independent advisory work and I needed to come up with a pay rate. I asked my

friends and other people what they were getting paid to do similar

work and through my cursory research I came up with a number that I thought was worth my

while. I gathered the courage and in a meeting with the hiring team I said

the number out loud. And then silence, long protracted silence. Silence. they had said yes right away then I should have asked for more money. Instead they

said something like we might be able to adjust our budget to make that work and

make it work they did. During that negotiation I was a bundle of nerves. I'm glad I saw

it through but sometimes I do wonder what would have happened if I couldn't stand

the uncomfortable silence? What if I didn't have the uncomfortable silence?

What if I didn't have the nerve to ask?

I'm Madupak-Anola.

This is Ted Business from the Ted Audio Collective.

Our speaker today is Alex Carter.

She's a negotiation trainer for the United Nations,

and she's here to share her expertise with us.

After years of experience, she's discovered

that curious people, they're often the ones who make more money.

Then after the talk, I'll share some strategies for elegantly opening up a conversation.

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