The #1 Mistake Professionals Make

You’re in the final stages of a job offer, or maybe you’ve been offered a promotion. You know this is your chance to negotiate a better salary – but what’s the best approach?

Most professionals make one critical mistake in salary negotiations: They focus only on their past experience or their current salary, rather than the value they bring to the company.

Instead of saying:
🚫 “I was making X at my last job, so I’m looking for an increase.”
🚫 “I have 10 years of experience, so I should be compensated accordingly.”

Say this instead:
✅ “Based on the impact I’ll have in this role and the market value for similar positions, I’d like to discuss a total compensation package in the range of X.”

Here’s why this shift is so powerful:

Companies don’t pay for effort – they pay for impact.

Basing your ask on market rates and business value makes it harder to argue against.

It puts the focus on future contributions, rather than past compensation.

Pro tip: Always negotiate with total compensation in mind – salary, bonuses, stock options, benefits, and flexibility all factor into the final package. Confidence + strategy = better offers.