Nice girl’s guide TO GETTING WHAT YOU WANT

If you find negotiating difficult, you may think it’s because you’re not brave or confident enough. Of course, that comes into it, but research has shown it may also be because women who negotiate are perceived as being more aggressive than men.

But it’s not just men who make this judgement, we tend to see ourselves this way, too.

Economist professor Linda Babcock has three tips to help bring success your way:

* Smile, make eye contact and use inclusive body language.

* Don’t apologise for asking for what you want, but state your case with charm.

Be pleasant and sympathetic to the other person’s viewpoint – but don’t lose sight