As with so many hard-working, conscientious professionals I've had the privilege of working with, the real challenge wasn’t the logistics of securing multiple offers. It was socialized guilt. Guilt is a learned emotion. It got ingrained in us by authority figures who wanted us to be—let’s be blunt—easily controllable.

The real reason to negotiate your next job offer or raise goes far beyond your paycheck.
But first, let’s talk numbers. When you negotiate, your chances of a pay increase go way up:
📊 85% of those who negotiate get at least some increase (Salary.com survey)
💼 70%+ of hiring managers expect candidates to negotiate (Robert Half survey)
💰 Typical salary increases range from 10% to 20%—some secure even more.

The SECRET SAUCE to effective self-advocacy isn't to convince -- or to contort your communication tactics inauthentically, or to push your perspective on others in an aggressive and unethical way.