If you’re the kind of guy who likes to negotiate—more Gordon Gekko than Woody Allen—a little exercise may boost your bartering skills, finds new research from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Among hundreds of people who said they enjoyed haggling, a quick workout prior to a negotiation improved outcomes by 7 percent. The exact opposite was true for those who dread bargaining; exercise lowered their chances of getting what they wanted, the study shows.
Physical activity quickens your heart rate and makes your palms sweat—sensations normally associated with anxiety. But if you dig wheeling-and-dealing, that workout rush makes you feel excited and enthusiastic, which leads to better negotiation outcomes, explains study coauthor Ashley Brown, Ph.D.
Plan on asking your boss for a raise? Before your meeting, head outside for a brisk 5-minute walk—not a CrossFit session. You want to slightly raise your heart rate to around 120 beats per minute, the research suggests. Push yourself too hard, and your mental performance could be impaired, Brown says.
via The Best Thing to Do Before Asking for a Raise | Men’s Health News.
The Best Thing to Do Before Asking for a Raise
