Negotiating

Why it matters

You can negotiate for almost anything, and you're going to have to. Getting a raise, buying a car, compromising with your significant other #healthyrelationship.

School is your first opportunity. Anything can be a negotiation once you realize you have leverage. Adults don't take bad deals. Kids do.

A test date, a late-work policy, the seating chart, the phone rule, what happens the Friday before break: somebody decided each of those, and most of them can move. Teachers want an engaged class. Admins want fewer complaints. That's your leverage.

Build stronger negotiating skills

Look for opportunities in class to negotiate. If you feel like you've been assigned too much homework, don't just groan: propose a solution.

1. 1

   Find out what they want

   A teacher worried that retakes reward cramming might say yes if students have to do test corrections first. Listen like a hostage negotiator before you make your case.

2. 2

   Bring an offer, not a complaint

   "Could we move the test to Monday if we use Friday for a review game?" beats "this is too much."

3. 3

   Know your fallback

   Ask for Friday, be ready to take Thursday night.

4. 4

   Get it in writing

   Send a two-line email that closes the loop.

5. 5

   Treat "no" as information

   Ask, "What would need to be true for this to work?" and come back with that.

Here's what that two-line email can look like after you and your teacher agree on a new test date:

1. 1The deal, restated in plain words
2. 2An easy way for them to correct you

Start with the easy ones: ask for an extension, or cut a deal instead of cutting class.

Talk about your negotiating skills in your resume