Negotiating While Black: Be Who You Are to Get What You Want

by Damali Peterman

A real-world, one-of-a-kind resource for anyone who has ever been underestimated, overlooked, or misunderstood at the negotiating table.

There’s no shortage of negotiation books that advise you to “get to yes,” urge you to “never split the difference,” and push you to “ask for more.” But these one-size-fits-all negotiation techniques disregard the reality of our complex, multifaceted, multicultural world, where snap judgements are made based on perceived differences. When bias lies behind every negotiation, the only constant is you. Learn to leverage who you are—and gain the upperhand.

Negotiating While Black is the indispensable guide that lawyer and mediator Damali Peterman wishes had existed earlier, as she navigated workplaces as the only Black woman, advocated for her children attending predominantly white schools, and mediated countless other bias-ridden settings. Drawing on these experiences together with decades of wisdom as a trained negotiator in high-stakes situations, Peterman has developed successful strategies notably absent from other top negotiation books—tactics that work for all people, no matter your identity. From the Foundational Five skills to the Negotiation Superpowers, these tried-and-true techniques will lift you to the next level of winning.

Whether negotiating in the boardroom or in everyday life, Peterman shows how everything is potentially up for discussion—even when stakes (and emotions) are high. You can’t control bias, but by being yourself, you actually have a better shot at getting what you want. Because when you arrive prepared and proud of who you are, you’ll reap the rewards.

247 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 4, 2024

Reviews

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. As a Black woman preparing to make a career change (from being self-employed back to corporate), this book encouraged me to remember my worth when the time comes. The reminder to show up as myself was something I've never gotten in other materials about how to negotiate. It also made me reconsider when negotiation was necessary. Damali Peterman broke down just how often we actually use negotiation in life & how it is really conflict resolution at its simplest. She addresses the tough topics head-on, which I appreciate because you can tell in an instant WHO the book was written for. The chapter about "The Talk" hit close to home while also providing added tools to teach the young Black children in my life. Peterman uses practical examples of how to use her tools & systems in real life and explains them in ways that are easy to digest & comprehend.

Thank you to Putnam Books, author Damali Peterman & NetGalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for a review. This review is my honest & own opinion.

[Chantelly Low · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book spans multiple genres. It's not just a book on negotiation, it provides the reader with many different perspectives of the human experience. By understanding different perspectives, we are able to maneuver the human experience more effectively through the right forms of communication, all while striving towards a win-win outcome for all.

[G · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting angle

I hadn't thought about how being Black impacts negotiations, but it really does impact everything. This book had some interesting things to think about when negotiating life.