Episode: 300

Episode Title: Being Open to Reason

If you demonstrate that you’re open to reason, the person you’re negotiating with will usually do the same. Let’s talk about it, coming up next on The Perna Syndicate.

Ep 300 show:

Welcome to The Perna Syndicate! All week, we’ve talked about the best way to negotiate with your boss if you want to continue working from home. Today, I want to wrap up this topic with a little perspective on being flexible.

Effective negotiation requires both sides to see one another’s perspective. As you work through the conversation, you should try to find a middle ground. The end result has to work for both parties. 

If you find that your employer isn’t a fan of a permanent or exclusive work-from-home plan, you should have at least a few contingencies you’re willing to consider to arrive at a workable solution. 

That might mean working from the office half of the time, attending important meetings in person on an as-needed basis, or some other compromise. If you’re prepared with other options to consider, plus the reasons behind your suggestions, you set the groundwork for a productive conversation.

On the other hand, if either side—employee or employer—adopts a rigid take-it-or-leave-it attitude, that’s no longer a negotiation. Career coach Alexa Fischer warns that such a stance on either side is most likely a ticket to finding a new job. 

When you show that you’re open to reason, the other party will usually follow suit. So approach the conversation with a positive attitude, keep your expectations realistic, and stay flexible no matter what the outcome. I wish you great success! 

That’s all for The Perna Syndicate this week. Thanks for listening! I’m your host, Mark Perna, and we’ll be back next week with more on education, careers, and personal success. See you then!