Ask why before countering
Use interest-based questioning before making a counteroffer in an everyday ask.
The first counteroffer is often premature. If you do not know what the request is protecting, you may bargain over the surface. Position The visible demand is usually narrow: attend the call, move the date, add the slide, cover the shift. It may be only one way to meet the real need. Interest Ask what outcome the other side is trying to protect. Credibility, speed, risk reduction, fairness, and certainty are common interests in workplace asks. Package Once the interest is clear, anchor a package that meets it at lower cost: shorter attendance, async input, a trade across timing, or…
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