#1 ·
I was watching a documentary on contract disputes the other night, and it got me thinking about how much of professional negotiation is just a psychological game of chicken. It feels like nowadays, whether it's in sports or even just a big corporate promotion, there's this massive gap between what a person is actually worth and what the "powers that be" are willing to put on the table to see if they can get away with it.
It's frustrating to watch, honestly. You see someone perform at an elite level, basically carrying a heavy load, and then the moment they're eligible for a new deal, the organization acts like they're doing them a favor by offering pennies on the dollar. It's a calculated move to test the waters, but it often feels more like a lack of respect for the talent involved.
I've dealt with this in my own career—offered a "competitive" raise that didn't even cover the cost of living increase, just because they knew I had limited options at the time. It makes you wonder if these initial numbers are ever meant to be serious, or if they're just designed to see how much someone will settle for out of desperation.
Do you think these low initial offers are a legitimate strategy, or is it just a way for organizations to disrespect the people who make them successful?
It's frustrating to watch, honestly. You see someone perform at an elite level, basically carrying a heavy load, and then the moment they're eligible for a new deal, the organization acts like they're doing them a favor by offering pennies on the dollar. It's a calculated move to test the waters, but it often feels more like a lack of respect for the talent involved.
I've dealt with this in my own career—offered a "competitive" raise that didn't even cover the cost of living increase, just because they knew I had limited options at the time. It makes you wonder if these initial numbers are ever meant to be serious, or if they're just designed to see how much someone will settle for out of desperation.
Do you think these low initial offers are a legitimate strategy, or is it just a way for organizations to disrespect the people who make them successful?