"If you're not willing to walk away, you're not negotiating -- you're just having a conversation about salary."
A thousand times yes, and worth reiterating: if you're not willing to walk away, don't even start.
At a previous position, I requested a pretty steep raise, but with the following in hand: a solid job offer from a competitor at the desired rate; and willingness to settle for a smaller raise but more time working from home.
The main thing, though, is to get something out of the negotiation, because settling for the status quo permanently weakens you in management's eyes and will hurt you in future negotiations. Better to just leave.
A thousand times yes, and worth reiterating: if you're not willing to walk away, don't even start.
At a previous position, I requested a pretty steep raise, but with the following in hand: a solid job offer from a competitor at the desired rate; and willingness to settle for a smaller raise but more time working from home.
The main thing, though, is to get something out of the negotiation, because settling for the status quo permanently weakens you in management's eyes and will hurt you in future negotiations. Better to just leave.