Negotiate with Power: Own your Worth

I’ve delivered results consistently.

So why do I hesitate when it comes to negotiating for something that I deserve? 🙈

Sounds familiar? That was me, a few years ago.

During Covid, work was sparse.

To keep my coaching business going, I had taken on a few projects at a lower rate—ones I wouldn’t have normally accepted. But once the world regained its rhythm, I knew it was time to reassess.

There were two projects where I felt I was underpaid.
So, I went back to my clients and renegotiated my rates.

I set my walk-away rate—the minimum I was willing to accept to continue delivering my services.

It was a bold move for me. I had to overcome fear and ground myself in my sense of worth. 😅

One client agreed, and I got a 45% increase! 2 years later, I still continue to work for them. 😇

Another was willing to increase by 25%, but it was lower than the walk-away rate I had fixed, and I chose to walk away. 🚶‍♀️‍➡️

Here’s the thing: Had I not asked, life would have continued and no one would have realised anything, except for me.

That’s when I realized something powerful: if you don’t ask, you don’t get.

Why Do Women Hesitate to Negotiate?

Even when we deliver results, many of us hesitate to ask for what we deserve.
We second-guess ourselves. We fear rejection. We worry about seeming too demanding.

But here’s the truth: salary negotiation for women isn’t just about money—it’s about self-advocacy at work and stepping into our leadership potential.

Biggest lesson I learned: Advocating for yourself isn’t asking for a favor—it’s a leadership skill.

Sheryl Sandberg, former COO of Meta and author of Lean In, encourages women to “sit at the table” rather than take a backseat.

She also says this:
👉 “If you don’t ask, you don’t get.”

And that’s the point.

Own your worth. Ask.

Yes, fears can come in the way , but we need to let our inner cheerleader win over the inner critic !

Here are some tips:

🔹 Shift Your Mindset – Its not a favor; you’re negotiating based on your impact.

🔹 Start with Data – Show the numbers. Revenue impact, strategic wins, leadership influence—make your case undeniable.

🔹 Use Direct, Clear Language – Instead of “I was wondering if there’s a possibility of a raise,” say, “Based on my contributions and market benchmarks, I’d like to discuss my compensation.”

🔹 Don’t Wait for the ‘Perfect’ Time – Because there isn’t one. If you’ve earned it, now is the right time.

🔹 Negotiate Beyond Pay – Its not always about money. It could be a new project, more resources, a bigger team, more flexibility, more autonomy, more authority that you need to ask for. Take a wider look at your needs and set up a conversation.

And feel free to DM me on LinkedIn if you want to build more confidence in who you are and I would love to discuss if we can work together to do just that!

Afterall, #AccelerateAction in 2025, could just be about owning your worth

Yoshita Swarup Sharma

Founder & CEO – A Brighter Life | ICF Certified Executive Coach  | Leadership facilitator | NLP Practitioner| Inner Transformation Specialist

“What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the Master calls a butterfly” Yoshita lives life by the famous lines of Richard Bach. She is a management graduate from Symbiosis Institute of Business Management and economics graduate From Hansraj College, Delhi University. She has been an accomplished marketing professional before embarking on a second career in the domain of people transformation.

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