An Easy Negotiation Tip

If you're a negotiation pro, you've probably got an arsenal of persuasion techniques to turn to when you're trying to get what you want. If you're like many of the rest of us, though, your lone hope is that the other party is just as terrible at negotiating as you are—or takes pity on you. Instead of quietly whimpering the next time you ask your boss for a raise, here's a quick tip: Ask for something you don't want, and then fold on it after the counteroffer. It's not going to turn you into Machiavelli overnight, but you won't be chopped liver either.