By: Natasha Archary
While men are said to be good negotiators because they make better liars know how to intimidate and make no apologies for their lack of guilt about it, women are, believe it or not, better negotiators.
Sizwe Dhlomo’s point that being tough and thorough in a negotiation is necessary, yes, but intimidating your way through a contract, deal or life and death situation requires a more complex set of skills.
Many of which, most men lack!
According to a Harvard Education blog, there is still a huge gap in the wage negotiating front between men and women and as Keneiloe Huma mentioned, she tends to hold back in negotiations because she doesn’t want to come across as aggressive.
Women are however considered far better negotiators because they are more compassionate, better listeners, more capable of tapping into their empathetic side and can come across as more relatable than men.
As much as it may be considered tactical to stand your ground in a negotiation, coming across as combative and unrelenting may backfire as this may be viewed as hostile.
Here’s how Kaya Drive listeners weighed in on Tuesday’s topic, “Who make better negotiators, men or women?”
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Kaya Drive: Sorry guys! Women make better negotiators! Natasha
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Kaya Drive: Sorry guys! Women make better negotiators! Natasha
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play_arrow
Kaya Drive: Sorry guys! Women make better negotiators! Natasha
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play_arrow
Kaya Drive: Sorry guys! Women make better negotiators! Natasha
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play_arrow
Kaya Drive: Sorry guys! Women make better negotiators! Natasha
Joined on the line by Counselling Psychologist, Nhlanhla Zondo, the Kaya Drive team who were split on the question 2 to 2 were given key factors that can take one’s negotiating skills up a notch.
- Listen – The key to negotiating is to listen actively to what the other person is saying. Don’t listen to respond, but listen to understand.
- Be passionate – Standing by your abilities, especially in salary negotiations means you have to believe in what you bring to the company. Don’t undersell yourself.
- Confidence – Don’t just sound it but look the part as body language plays a key role in how people perceive you.
- Have a plan – Before you get into a negotiation, anticipate any resistance and have a plan for how you’re going to get through.
Also read: Women seize the month with ‘Red Lipstick Challenge’


