Highly Effective Tactics
Day 2: Salami Slicing
(Yes, we’re already getting into the meaty stuff. 🥓)
Why This Matters:
Yesterday, we started exploring 100 tactics often taught in corporate spaces—strategies that can shape decisions, influence negotiations, and tilt the playing field.
These tactics aren’t just for sales or procurement; they’re used across all business areas and everyday life. Understanding them is crucial, whether you’re directly involved in negotiations or simply navigating your career.
Why? Because recognizing these tactics empowers you to make informed decisions, avoid manipulation, and negotiate from a position of strength. It’s not about becoming a master manipulator—it’s about ensuring you’re not on the receiving end without even realizing it.
The Salami Slicing Tactic: Small Steps, Big Impact?
In business, sometimes it’s the little things that count—or rather, the little things that add up. 📈
The “Salami Slicing” tactic is about breaking down a big request into smaller, more manageable pieces, slowly gaining concessions until you’ve achieved something much larger.
It’s like asking for a single slice of salami at a time until you’ve taken the whole sausage without anyone noticing.
Is this Ethical?
Small requests seem harmless—easy to agree to, right?
But what happens when those small requests add up to something much bigger, something that, if asked for all at once, would have never been approved?
Are you slicing your way to success, or are you cutting corners? 🤔
Corporate Example:
Imagine you’re a procurement officer negotiating with a supplier.
You start by asking for just a tiny discount, something almost negligible.
Then, you request a small favor—faster delivery, maybe. Next, you ask for a slightly better payment term. Before you know it, you’ve sliced your way into terms so favorable, the supplier wonders how they ended up offering you such a sweet deal.
But here’s the kicker: when they finally realize the full picture, it’s too late to back out.
Everyday Examples:
We all do a little salami slicing now and then. Maybe you’ve asked for a small favor, then another, and another, until your request turns into something much bigger.
It’s amazing what you can achieve, one thin slice at a time.
Could It Be Used Against You?
Be on the lookout for when others start asking for small, seemingly harmless concessions.
By the time you realize what’s happening, you might find you’ve given away a lot more than you intended. 😬
Questions to Ponder:
• Is salami slicing a clever negotiation strategy, or does it toe the line of manipulation?
• How do you recognize when you’re being sliced, one thin request at a time?
Let’s discuss: Have you been on either side of a salami slicing situation? Did you slice your way to success, or end up on the cutting board?