Marissa Mayer: I come off sometimes as aggressive and then other party shuts down. That is such an interesting conundrum of how do I get through this negotiation as quickly and efficiently as possible while also not damaging the relationship. Women are often seen when they're advocating for themselves as being pushy or bossy, she says. So even though we want to be direct, we have to recognize one how we're being perceived and manage that process. It's in your best interest not to circumvent that process because that could be detrimental at the negotiation table.