Negotiation Tactics
What you might say: "That’s too expensive for us."
"How about a 5% discount to meet halfway?"
"Did you even read my email?"
"I’ve reattached my initial email for reference."
"This meeting is pointless."
"Could we clarify the objectives to maximize efficiency?"
That’s a horrible idea."
"Have we explored all alternatives?"
"Stop calling me after hours!"
"My working hours are 8 AM–6 PM. I’ll respond during that time."
What you might say: "Can we finalize this now?"
"Are we in a position to conclude the agreement today?"
"Google that yourself."
"I recommend researching online, and I’m happy to clarify specifics."
"Stop micromanaging!"
"I’m confident in my approach but will loop you in at key milestones."
"I told you so."
"This aligns with the concerns I raised earlier."
"I’m not paid enough for this."
"This falls outside my scope, but I’d welcome a discussion about role expansion."
Write a sentence asking to delay a meeting.
"I’d like to propose rescheduling to ensure we’re fully prepared."
Write a follow-up email after no response.
"Gentle reminder—could you confirm receipt of my earlier message?"
Decline an unnecessary meeting invite.
"Given my current workload, I suggest we resolve this via email."
Address a disrespectful comment from a manager.
"I value constructive feedback but expect it to be delivered respectfully."
Push back on an unrealistic workload.
"Can we reprioritize my tasks to accommodate this new request?"
"I already told you this!"
"As previously indicated, the terms remain unchanged."
"This is not my problem."
"I’ll connect you with [Name], who specializes in this area."
"You’re wasting my time."
"Let’s reconvene when we have more concrete data."
"You’re not my boss!"
"Has [Manager] approved this task allocation?"
"Do your own job!"
"I recommend consulting [Department] for this matter."
A client insists on an unrealistic deadline. Respond professionally.
"To ensure quality, let’s discuss a timeline that aligns with both our capacities."
Scenario:
Your manager emails you at 10pm on Friday asking for "urgent" weekend work on a non-critical task. You had already communicated your unavailability this weekend for a family event.
"Thank you for flagging this request. As mentioned in our last 1:1, I have a prior family commitment this weekend that prevents me from being available. I'd be happy to prioritize this first thing Monday morning or help identify another team member who may have capacity. Please let me know your preference."
A coworker interrupts you repeatedly. Respond professionally.
"I’d appreciate the chance to finish my thought before we discuss further."
A teammate misses a deadline. Respond professionally.
"Let’s identify roadblocks and adjust timelines accordingly."
Asked to work overtime consistently. Respond professionally.
"To maintain sustainability, I’d like to discuss workload distribution."