How to Ask For and Get What You Want: Commonsense Tips that Work

Former teacher DePino (Parenting Mindfully) lays out in this useful primer methods for securing a desirable outcome to negotiations. DePino’s central tenet is that the most important aspect to negotiating is getting the other person on your side. Reading body language and tone—and learning how to use them to maximum effect through eye contact and “mirroring” another’s body language to enhance rapport—is paramount, as is using “magic words” like please and thank you, the author notes. DePino also advises being concise when asking for something and phrasing statements in the first-person plural. After those basics, DePino provides real-world scenarios and suggestions for how to approach asking for and getting what one wants—such as during job applications, asking for help from friends, soliciting help for a child struggling in school, complaining to a restaurant’s manager about an unsatisfactory meal, and staving off office gossips and bullies. DePino’s tips and strategies make this a solid choice for those new to the negotiation table. (Oct.)