I was previously working as a General Manager – Accounts & Finance in a Vehicle sales and servicing company. There were 80 people working there, including the mechanics and field assistants. The organisation followed an annual salary revision model and adhered to it for over 10 years. That particular year, due to a recession, the company incurred heavy losses and found it difficult to offer salary increments to the employees. They were a people-centric organization and hence decided to go with small increments instead of none. This did not go well with the majority of the employees and they went on strike. The management tried to talk them out of it, but it did not work. I was asked to address the crowd and negotiate with them. I walked in not completely sure of how I could manage such a thing. But I truly believed that the organization had its people’s best interests in mind and the situation was really out of their control. With that belief in me, I spoke to the employees who were on strike. I explained the situation and requested them to trust their employer. After many rounds, I was able to get through to them. I am not a salesman, but that day I realised that #SalesSkillsAre indeed Life Skills, especially when you truly trust the words that come out of your own mouth.