We negotiate every single day, we just don’t realize it. When you do a transaction, like buying your morning coffee, you’re already negotiating, it’s just that the price and conditions have already been set beforehand. In the workplace, the most common form of negotiation happens when you’d want a promotion or a raise.

Most people feel a little awkward when it comes to these business dealings, but the more you feel you deserve to climb up the career ladder, the more reason you have to polish up on your negotiating skills. Here are some tips to make sure you get what you want, without being awkward about it afterward.

(Photo by Flazingo Photos via Flickr Creative Commons)