Aspire for More: How to be an Everyday Negotiator

Have you ever walked into a negotiation thinking you have to look confident, puffed up your feathers, and had a bit of a “wing it” approach?

Or wanted something more, perhaps a salary increase, but didn’t really know what to ask for?

In Part 2, I’ll be talking about the “I,” “R,” and “E” of the ASPIRE framework. You should definitely listen to Part 1 first so you can fully understand the foundation of this approach and see how each step builds on the last. Because ASPIRE is designed to work as a complete, interconnected system, not as isolated tactics.

In this episode, I’m sharing how to investigate hidden standards, recalibrate your ask based on real information, and execute with emotional and psychological preparedness, and so much more. 

I break down why ambiguity disproportionately hurts women in negotiations, how to uncover what’s actually negotiable (even when you’re told it isn’t), and why doing a little investigative legwork can completely change the outcome of a conversation.

If you or someone you care about is in the middle of a long, high-stakes negotiation—or putting one off because it feels overwhelming—this episode is essential listening. Tune in to learn the critical steps people skip, the questions you should be asking before you make your next move, and how to stay steady, strategic, and true to yourself all the way through the finish line.


JOIN THE PRIORITY LIST FOR JOAN’S NEXT COHORT OF THE ADVANCED NEGOTIATION INTENSIVE
https://course.moonnegotiation.com/Join-the-Priority-List


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This podcast is a call-in show, so if you or a woman you know needs help in this area, feel free to contact me at joan@moonnegotiation.com to submit your questions or join me in our next episode. 


CONNECT WITH JOAN:
⚉ Website: https://www.moonnegotiation.com/ 
⚉ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanmoon413/ 
⚉ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moonnegotiation
⚉ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@moonnegotiation


JOIN THE MAILING LIST FOR NEWS AND NEGOTIATION TIPS:
https://www.moonnegotiation.com/social-media 

Send us a text

The Aspire For More podcast and all related content are presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. While Joan strives to provide incisively strategic and research-based content, your listenership does not create a coach-client relationship.

Negotiation involves inherent risks. Joan and her guests are not attorneys, financial advisors, or mental health professionals. No part of this show should be taken as a substitute for professional advice tailored to your specific situation. Any action you take based on the information in this podcast is strictly at your own risk, and Moon Negotiation LLC is not liable for any losses or damages in connection with the use of this content.

Have you ever walked into a negotiation feeling unsure where to start, or wondered why doing “all the right things” still didn’t get you the outcome you hoped for?

What if the problem isn’t your confidence or your ask, but the lack of a clear system guiding your decisions?

In this episode, I’m sharing a behind-the-scenes look at the ASPIRE ™ framework, the six-step system I created to help clients navigate everything from salary conversations to high-stakes workplace negotiations. I break down why mindset isn’t “woo-woo” but a strategic advantage, how misidentifying powerbrokers and decision-makers can derail your efforts, and why focusing on interests - not positions - can unlock better outcomes for everyone involved. I also walk through how to plan your moves thoughtfully, frame your asks as Win-Wins, and avoid common traps that leave people feeling stuck or resentful.

If you or someone you care about is preparing for a negotiation - or avoiding one because it feels overwhelming - this episode will give you language, structure, and clarity you can apply immediately.


JOIN THE PRIORITY LIST FOR JOAN’S NEXT COHORT OF THE ADVANCED NEGOTIATION INTENSIVE
https://course.moonnegotiation.com/Join-the-Priority-List


—
This podcast is a call-in show, so if you or a woman you know needs help in this area, feel free to contact me at joan@moonnegotiation.com to submit your questions or join me in our next episode.


CONNECT WITH JOAN:
⚉ Website: https://www.moonnegotiation.com/
⚉ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanmoon413/
⚉ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moonnegotiation
⚉ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@moonnegotiation


JOIN THE MAILING LIST FOR NEWS AND NEGOTIATION TIPS:
https://www.moonnegotiation.com/newsletter 

Send us a text

The Aspire For More podcast and all related content are presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. While Joan strives to provide incisively strategic and research-based content, your listenership does not create a coach-client relationship.

Negotiation involves inherent risks. Joan and her guests are not attorneys, financial advisors, or mental health professionals. No part of this show should be taken as a substitute for professional advice tailored to your specific situation. Any action you take based on the information in this podcast is strictly at your own risk, and Moon Negotiation LLC is not liable for any losses or damages in connection with the use of this content.

Have you ever wondered how far you can push for what you need at work without burning bridges—or how your negotiation can create lasting change for everyone in your organization?

In this episode, our caller Naeha, a manager at a small U.S. nonprofit, shares the continuation of her negotiation journey for parental leave. After discovering a major leadership transition that gave her unexpected leverage, Naeha details how she navigated a complex, months-long conversation with her organization to secure nearly a year of leave for herself while also shaping an official company-wide policy. 

This episode is a masterclass in strategic negotiation, patience, and advocacy. Whether you’re negotiating your own leave, navigating a promotion, or looking to create structural change in your workplace, Naeha’s story shows that careful planning, allies, and thoughtful communication can lead to outcomes that benefit both you and your colleagues. 

MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:

⚉ [Podcast] #15 Why negotiating with family is difficult? - https://www.buzzsprout.com/2323468/episodes/16181030 
⚉ [Podcast] #6 Negotiating Paid Maternity Leave | What if they ask for salary expectations in the job application? - https://www.buzzsprout.com/2323468/episodes/15140435 
⚉ [Blog Post] Why Negotiating with Family is Difficult - https://www.moonnegotiation.com/blog/why-negotiating-with-family-is-difficult 


—
This podcast is a call-in show, so if you or a woman you know needs help in this area, feel free to contact me at joan@moonnegotiation.com to submit your questions or join me in our next episode. 


JOIN THE PRIORITY LIST FOR JOAN’S NEXT COHORT OF THE ADVANCED NEGOTIATION INTENSIVE
https://course.moonnegotiation.com/Join-the-Priority-List


CONNECT WITH JOAN:
⚉ Website: https://www.moonnegotiation.com/ 
⚉ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanmoon413/ 
⚉ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moonnegotiation
⚉ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@moonnegotiation


JOIN THE MAILING LIST FOR NEWS AND NEGOTIATION TIPS:
https://www.moonnegotiation.com/newsletter

Send us a text

The Aspire For More podcast and all related content are presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. While Joan strives to provide incisively strategic and research-based content, your listenership does not create a coach-client relationship.

Negotiation involves inherent risks. Joan and her guests are not attorneys, financial advisors, or mental health professionals. No part of this show should be taken as a substitute for professional advice tailored to your specific situation. Any action you take based on the information in this podcast is strictly at your own risk, and Moon Negotiation LLC is not liable for any losses or damages in connection with the use of this content.

What would you do if your workplace didn’t have a maternity leave policy—and you were about to need one?

Would you risk asking for something that’s never been done before? Or walk away from a job you’ve helped build?

In this episode, our caller, Naeha, a manager at a small nonprofit, returns with a powerful update. When we first met her, she had just lost a valued team member who quit over the organization’s lack of maternity leave. 

Now, a year and a half later, Naeha shares how she turned that frustration into action—and successfully negotiated her own paid leave package.

In our conversation, Naeha reflects on the emotional turning point that pushed her to speak up, the subtle signaling that kept her ask collaborative rather than confrontational, and how she built internal allies to transform a simple “what if” into an actual company policy.

If you’ve ever wondered when to advocate for yourself—or how to balance what’s fair for you versus what’s good for the organization—this story is a must-listen. You’ll walk away with practical insights on timing, anchoring, and the power of allies—lessons that could help you or someone you love the next time a workplace negotiation feels out of reach.


MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:

⚉ [Podcast] #15 Why negotiating with family is difficult? - https://www.buzzsprout.com/2323468/episodes/16181030 
⚉ [Podcast] #6 Negotiating Paid Maternity Leave | What if they ask for salary expectations in the job application? - https://www.buzzsprout.com/2323468/episodes/15140435 
⚉ [Blog Post] Why Negotiating with Family is Difficult - https://www.moonnegotiation.com/blog/why-negotiating-with-family-is-difficult 


—
This podcast is a call-in show, so if you or a woman you know needs help in this area, feel free to contact me at joan@moonnegotiation.com to submit your questions or join me in our next episode. 


JOIN THE PRIORITY LIST FOR JOAN’S NEXT COHORT OF THE ADVANCED NEGOTIATION INTENSIVE
https://course.moonnegotiation.com/Join-the-Priority-List


CONNECT WITH JOAN:
⚉ Website: https://www.moonnegotiation.com/ 
⚉ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanmoon413/ 
⚉ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moonnegotiation
⚉ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@moonnegotiation


JOIN THE MAILING LIST FOR NEWS AND NEGOTIATION TIPS:
https://www.moonnegotiation.com/newsletter

Send us a text

The Aspire For More podcast and all related content are presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. While Joan strives to provide incisively strategic and research-based content, your listenership does not create a coach-client relationship.

Negotiation involves inherent risks. Joan and her guests are not attorneys, financial advisors, or mental health professionals. No part of this show should be taken as a substitute for professional advice tailored to your specific situation. Any action you take based on the information in this podcast is strictly at your own risk, and Moon Negotiation LLC is not liable for any losses or damages in connection with the use of this content.

Many women spend hours building pitch decks, collecting data, and rehearsing persuasive talking points for negotiations—only to unintentionally weaken their position the moment they enter the room. 

The issue often isn’t the ask itself, but the posture from which it’s made.

In this second-part episode, Joan Moon and women’s leadership coach Stephanie Aitken continue their deep dive into the hidden behaviors that quietly weaken your negotiating position. 

These patterns are so ingrained. Often praised as being “helpful,” “loyal,” or “easy to work with”, most women don’t even realize how much influence they’re giving away before the conversation begins. 

The good news? Once you recognize them, they're entirely fixable.

ABOUT THE GUEST

Stephanie Aitken is a consultant, trainer, speaker, and coach, as well as the founder of Stephanie Aitken Consulting and the Gender Harmony Collective, an initiative designed to move beyond traditional gender equality toward true inclusivity. With over 25 years of professional experience, she began her career as an in-house lawyer for MTV and Channel 4, working on major projects such as the MTV Music Awards, Apple iTunes, and Stand Up to Cancer.

Driven by her passion for people’s growth, she retrained in neuro-linguistic programming, coaching, and transformational facilitation, later delivering interpersonal skills training for organizations including Network Rail, Dentons, Fieldfisher, and Barclays. She went on to serve as a lead trainer at One of Many, then the UK’s largest women’s personal development company, where she guided large groups through transformational programmes and honed her expertise as a speaker and facilitator.

Stephanie now specializes in women’s leadership development and inclusive workplace strategies, creating targeted coaching, workshops, and organizational programmes that accelerate women’s careers while fostering environments where equity benefits everyone. Her mission is to evolve gender equality into a model where all employees can thrive, amplifying both individual potential and organizational success.

MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:

⚉ [Article] Are You Taking on Too Many Non-Promotable Tasks? - https://hbr.org/2022/04/are-you-taking-on-too-many-non-promotable-tasks 

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This podcast is a call-in show, so if you or a woman you know needs help in this area, feel free to contact me at joan@moonnegotiation.com to submit your questions or join me in our next episode. 

JOIN THE PRIORITY LIST FOR JOAN’S NEXT COHORT OF THE ADVANCED NEGOTIATION INTENSIVE

https://course.moonnegotiation.com/Join-the-Priority-List

CONNECT WITH STEPHANIE:

⚉ Website: https://www.stephanieaitken.com/ 

⚉ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in

Send us a text

The Aspire For More podcast and all related content are presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. While Joan strives to provide incisively strategic and research-based content, your listenership does not create a coach-client relationship.

Negotiation involves inherent risks. Joan and her guests are not attorneys, financial advisors, or mental health professionals. No part of this show should be taken as a substitute for professional advice tailored to your specific situation. Any action you take based on the information in this podcast is strictly at your own risk, and Moon Negotiation LLC is not liable for any losses or damages in connection with the use of this content.