Negotiation So-Called

I am ashamed.

My boss shall be ashamed, too.

I am in the Price Nego Committee, who determines the price of about 50% of the *utility* cost in Peninsular of Malaysia. I shall say that the Committee is indeed very prestigious, contains only the Senior Manager and above, and very highly confidential. Only me and my colleagues are kucing kurap.

I worked damn hard for the Committee and scored very good points when presenting ideas to them.

But I did bad in the recent negotiation with my own maid. Read. My Own Maid.

Damn.

Well, let's see.

She has been bugging me and the Man about pay increase from RM450 to Rm550. We wanted to settle at RM510, she maintained at RM550.

So I say this morning, okay with RM550 but no bonus.

She hagged me on and on about bonus. And I left the meeting with her feeling very satisfied because she is getting it!!
Geramnya.

Did I do market study before meeting her?
No.
She pushed me away when I said no other maid is getting a bonus. She said well this one got, this other got, I got, so why couldn't she get it.

Did I use the back door that 'we shall see what the Board says'?
No.
I always said, i'll check on with the Encik but this time, she knew what the Encik can give.

Did I use the average cost technique that will let her see the bigger picture?
No.
Damn me.

And a lot other things that I use in the negotiation meeting went unutilized with the simple-thinking Indonesian maid.

She walked away happily with RM550 (that is a RM100 increase from last year salary) and a promise of a yearly bonus.

Well, I did say no salary increase for another two years.
Points for me.
She said well she could stay another three years.

Well, I did say no to free flight ticket home.
Points for me.
She said well she is not going back for another three years.

I am a bad, bad, negotiator.

The company shall not hire me, no more.