"I used to get paid more somewhere else." That was the sentence. Almost an afterthought, dropped near the end of an offer negotiation that had gone beautifully. And it was enough to make my client spiral in doubt. Here’s the coaching I gave her.

“😥 Ugh, negotiating with Picky Pat (my boss) a couple years ago was so emotionally exhausting that I’d do anything to avoid confronting them again this year, even though I know I’m overdue for a market rate adjustment,” my client said. My client wants to feel confident going into future conversations about the promotion and raise she wants.