Enhance your results at the bargaining table with these strategies that can help improve your negotiation skills.
The possibility of improving your negotiation skills can be so overwhelming that you often delay taking the necessary steps to improve. The following seven guidelines will help you break this daunting task into a series of manageable and often essential strategies.
1. Know exactly what you want
It may seem like a no-brainer, but too often an individual goes into a negotiation without a clear understanding of what exactly he or she wants and why. Not only is it essential to have a rock-solid picture of what you want, but you also need to know the boundaries within which you will or won’t settle. Remember that you might not win every negotiation, and it’s important to know when to keep talking and when to walk away. Knowing what your desired result is will help you make better choices along the way to arrive at the most favourable conclusion.
2. Do your homework
Possibly the most important part of negotiating is understanding both the value of what you have to offer and the perceived value of what you are asking for in return. If you are negotiating a raise, you will want to demonstrate what your worth is to the company and why it is in their best interest to give you that raise. If you want to negotiate a service contract, you will need to have facts, figures, and statistics on hand to demonstrate why it is in the best interests of such affiliates and stakeholders.
3. Place yourself in their shoes
Often, we think we know what others want when, in reality, we do not. Great negotiators understand what the other person or party hopes to achieve and why. Don’t assume you know what the other person wants until you take the time to consider their perspective, position, experience, and reputation. Not everyone is going to be upfront and honest about what they want, but using the facts you already know can help you understand the reasoning behind their tactics. This will enable you to potentially steer toward the fairest, most equitable outcome.
4. Recognise the power of thorough preparation
It’s best to prepare thoroughly before a negotiation, but we often fail to do so. Research overwhelmingly shows that underprepared negotiators make unnecessary concessions, overlook sources of value, and walk away from beneficial agreements. Therefore, the single most valuable step you could take to improve your negotiation skills is to prepare thoroughly for essential talks. That might mean setting aside time to research, enlisting a negotiation coach to help you, or role-playing the negotiation with a trusted friend or colleague. As part of your negotiation research, determine your best alternative to a negotiated agreement (BATNA) and aim to identify your counterpart’s BATNA.
5. Be direct
A negotiating party will not always respond to warm interpersonal efforts. If you’re dealing with a negotiator leaning towards the extreme end of the difficulty spectrum, it might be time to employ your own tough tactics. Being assertive could potentially earn you more respect. Keep in mind, though, that you should always remain calm and respectful while expressing your needs explicitly. In certain scenarios, it is acceptable to tell someone that their behaviour is unacceptable and that you will not budge to controlling manipulative tactics. You might be surprised at the response you get when you prioritise self-respect first.
6. Aim for a win-win situation
A win-win scenario is a natural extension of showing empathy. Once you know what both you and the other person or party want, you can begin the process of reaching a fair outcome. Often, hardball negotiators will hide their true intentions to get you to accept less. However, be clear about what you will and will not accept. It’s acceptable to say “I require [goal and reason]. It would help if you had [goal] for what I think is [reason]. What can we do to meet each other partway?” Unfortunately, sometimes you may need to wait until the other party is willing to make concessions.
7. Know when it’s time to walk away
Ultimately, there are going to be people in this world with whom you cannot negotiate. Sometimes, a person might just want to see how far they can push you before you walk away. Always enter circumstances knowing where your “hard line” is. Sometimes, walking away will put a lid on negotiations. In other instances, however, it will communicate that you are not someone easily taken advantage of and negotiations may not only resume but also go much more smoothly.
Peaceful but firm negotiation tactics do not come easily for everyone. Don’t be afraid to practice these tips in front of a mirror or with a friendly partner to help you feel well-prepared. Confidence and assertion take practice, but they are skills more than worth their effort. Good luck!
Sources: www.topresume.com & www.pon.harvard.edu
7 Tips for Improving Your Negotiation Skills
Enhance your results at the bargaining table with these strategies that can help improve your negotiation skills.
The possibility of improving your negotiation skills can be so overwhelming that you often delay taking the necessary steps to improve. The following seven guidelines will help you break this daunting task into a series of manageable and often essential strategies.
1. Know exactly what you want
It may seem like a no-brainer, but too often an individual goes into a negotiation without a clear understanding of what exactly he or she wants and why. Not only is it essential to have a rock-solid picture of what you want, but you also need to know the boundaries within which you will or won’t settle. Remember that you might not win every negotiation, and it’s important to know when to keep talking and when to walk away. Knowing what your desired result is will help you make better choices along the way to arrive at the most favourable conclusion.
2. Do your homework
Possibly the most important part of negotiating is understanding both the value of what you have to offer and the perceived value of what you are asking for in return. If you are negotiating a raise, you will want to demonstrate what your worth is to the company and why it is in their best interest to give you that raise. If you want to negotiate a service contract, you will need to have facts, figures, and statistics on hand to demonstrate why it is in the best interests of such affiliates and stakeholders.
3. Place yourself in their shoes
Often, we think we know what others want when, in reality, we do not. Great negotiators understand what the other person or party hopes to achieve and why. Don’t assume you know what the other person wants until you take the time to consider their perspective, position, experience, and reputation. Not everyone is going to be upfront and honest about what they want, but using the facts you already know can help you understand the reasoning behind their tactics. This will enable you to potentially steer toward the fairest, most equitable outcome.
4. Recognise the power of thorough preparation
It’s best to prepare thoroughly before a negotiation, but we often fail to do so. Research overwhelmingly shows that underprepared negotiators make unnecessary concessions, overlook sources of value, and walk away from beneficial agreements. Therefore, the single most valuable step you could take to improve your negotiation skills is to prepare thoroughly for essential talks. That might mean setting aside time to research, enlisting a negotiation coach to help you, or role-playing the negotiation with a trusted friend or colleague. As part of your negotiation research, determine your best alternative to a negotiated agreement (BATNA) and aim to identify your counterpart’s BATNA.
5. Be direct
A negotiating party will not always respond to warm interpersonal efforts. If you’re dealing with a negotiator leaning towards the extreme end of the difficulty spectrum, it might be time to employ your own tough tactics. Being assertive could potentially earn you more respect. Keep in mind, though, that you should always remain calm and respectful while expressing your needs explicitly. In certain scenarios, it is acceptable to tell someone that their behaviour is unacceptable and that you will not budge to controlling manipulative tactics. You might be surprised at the response you get when you prioritise self-respect first.
6. Aim for a win-win situation
A win-win scenario is a natural extension of showing empathy. Once you know what both you and the other person or party want, you can begin the process of reaching a fair outcome. Often, hardball negotiators will hide their true intentions to get you to accept less. However, be clear about what you will and will not accept. It’s acceptable to say “I require [goal and reason]. It would help if you had [goal] for what I think is [reason]. What can we do to meet each other partway?” Unfortunately, sometimes you may need to wait until the other party is willing to make concessions.
7. Know when it’s time to walk away
Ultimately, there are going to be people in this world with whom you cannot negotiate. Sometimes, a person might just want to see how far they can push you before you walk away. Always enter circumstances knowing where your “hard line” is. Sometimes, walking away will put a lid on negotiations. In other instances, however, it will communicate that you are not someone easily taken advantage of and negotiations may not only resume but also go much more smoothly.
Peaceful but firm negotiation tactics do not come easily for everyone. Don’t be afraid to practice these tips in front of a mirror or with a friendly partner to help you feel well-prepared. Confidence and assertion take practice, but they are skills more than worth their effort. Good luck!
Sources: www.topresume.com & www.pon.harvard.edu
7 Tips for Improving Your Negotiation Skills
Enhance your results at the bargaining table with these strategies that can help improve your negotiation skills.
The possibility of improving your negotiation skills can be so overwhelming that you often delay taking the necessary steps to improve. The following seven guidelines will help you break this daunting task into a series of manageable and often essential strategies.
1. Know exactly what you want
It may seem like a no-brainer, but too often an individual goes into a negotiation without a clear understanding of what exactly he or she wants and why. Not only is it essential to have a rock-solid picture of what you want, but you also need to know the boundaries within which you will or won’t settle. Remember that you might not win every negotiation, and it’s important to know when to keep talking and when to walk away. Knowing what your desired result is will help you make better choices along the way to arrive at the most favourable conclusion.
2. Do your homework
Possibly the most important part of negotiating is understanding both the value of what you have to offer and the perceived value of what you are asking for in return. If you are negotiating a raise, you will want to demonstrate what your worth is to the company and why it is in their best interest to give you that raise. If you want to negotiate a service contract, you will need to have facts, figures, and statistics on hand to demonstrate why it is in the best interests of such affiliates and stakeholders.
3. Place yourself in their shoes
Often, we think we know what others want when, in reality, we do not. Great negotiators understand what the other person or party hopes to achieve and why. Don’t assume you know what the other person wants until you take the time to consider their perspective, position, experience, and reputation. Not everyone is going to be upfront and honest about what they want, but using the facts you already know can help you understand the reasoning behind their tactics. This will enable you to potentially steer toward the fairest, most equitable outcome.
4. Recognise the power of thorough preparation
It’s best to prepare thoroughly before a negotiation, but we often fail to do so. Research overwhelmingly shows that underprepared negotiators make unnecessary concessions, overlook sources of value, and walk away from beneficial agreements. Therefore, the single most valuable step you could take to improve your negotiation skills is to prepare thoroughly for essential talks. That might mean setting aside time to research, enlisting a negotiation coach to help you, or role-playing the negotiation with a trusted friend or colleague. As part of your negotiation research, determine your best alternative to a negotiated agreement (BATNA) and aim to identify your counterpart’s BATNA.
5. Be direct
A negotiating party will not always respond to warm interpersonal efforts. If you’re dealing with a negotiator leaning towards the extreme end of the difficulty spectrum, it might be time to employ your own tough tactics. Being assertive could potentially earn you more respect. Keep in mind, though, that you should always remain calm and respectful while expressing your needs explicitly. In certain scenarios, it is acceptable to tell someone that their behaviour is unacceptable and that you will not budge to controlling manipulative tactics. You might be surprised at the response you get when you prioritise self-respect first.
6. Aim for a win-win situation
A win-win scenario is a natural extension of showing empathy. Once you know what both you and the other person or party want, you can begin the process of reaching a fair outcome. Often, hardball negotiators will hide their true intentions to get you to accept less. However, be clear about what you will and will not accept. It’s acceptable to say “I require [goal and reason]. It would help if you had [goal] for what I think is [reason]. What can we do to meet each other partway?” Unfortunately, sometimes you may need to wait until the other party is willing to make concessions.
7. Know when it’s time to walk away
Ultimately, there are going to be people in this world with whom you cannot negotiate. Sometimes, a person might just want to see how far they can push you before you walk away. Always enter circumstances knowing where your “hard line” is. Sometimes, walking away will put a lid on negotiations. In other instances, however, it will communicate that you are not someone easily taken advantage of and negotiations may not only resume but also go much more smoothly.
Peaceful but firm negotiation tactics do not come easily for everyone. Don’t be afraid to practice these tips in front of a mirror or with a friendly partner to help you feel well-prepared. Confidence and assertion take practice, but they are skills more than worth their effort. Good luck!
Sources: www.topresume.com & www.pon.harvard.edu
7 Tips for Improving Your Negotiation Skills
Enhance your results at the bargaining table with these strategies that can help improve your negotiation skills.
The possibility of improving your negotiation skills can be so overwhelming that you often delay taking the necessary steps to improve. The following seven guidelines will help you break this daunting task into a series of manageable and often essential strategies.
1. Know exactly what you want
It may seem like a no-brainer, but too often an individual goes into a negotiation without a clear understanding of what exactly he or she wants and why. Not only is it essential to have a rock-solid picture of what you want, but you also need to know the boundaries within which you will or won’t settle. Remember that you might not win every negotiation, and it’s important to know when to keep talking and when to walk away. Knowing what your desired result is will help you make better choices along the way to arrive at the most favourable conclusion.
2. Do your homework
Possibly the most important part of negotiating is understanding both the value of what you have to offer and the perceived value of what you are asking for in return. If you are negotiating a raise, you will want to demonstrate what your worth is to the company and why it is in their best interest to give you that raise. If you want to negotiate a service contract, you will need to have facts, figures, and statistics on hand to demonstrate why it is in the best interests of such affiliates and stakeholders.
3. Place yourself in their shoes
Often, we think we know what others want when, in reality, we do not. Great negotiators understand what the other person or party hopes to achieve and why. Don’t assume you know what the other person wants until you take the time to consider their perspective, position, experience, and reputation. Not everyone is going to be upfront and honest about what they want, but using the facts you already know can help you understand the reasoning behind their tactics. This will enable you to potentially steer toward the fairest, most equitable outcome.
4. Recognise the power of thorough preparation
It’s best to prepare thoroughly before a negotiation, but we often fail to do so. Research overwhelmingly shows that underprepared negotiators make unnecessary concessions, overlook sources of value, and walk away from beneficial agreements. Therefore, the single most valuable step you could take to improve your negotiation skills is to prepare thoroughly for essential talks. That might mean setting aside time to research, enlisting a negotiation coach to help you, or role-playing the negotiation with a trusted friend or colleague. As part of your negotiation research, determine your best alternative to a negotiated agreement (BATNA) and aim to identify your counterpart’s BATNA.
5. Be direct
A negotiating party will not always respond to warm interpersonal efforts. If you’re dealing with a negotiator leaning towards the extreme end of the difficulty spectrum, it might be time to employ your own tough tactics. Being assertive could potentially earn you more respect. Keep in mind, though, that you should always remain calm and respectful while expressing your needs explicitly. In certain scenarios, it is acceptable to tell someone that their behaviour is unacceptable and that you will not budge to controlling manipulative tactics. You might be surprised at the response you get when you prioritise self-respect first.
6. Aim for a win-win situation
A win-win scenario is a natural extension of showing empathy. Once you know what both you and the other person or party want, you can begin the process of reaching a fair outcome. Often, hardball negotiators will hide their true intentions to get you to accept less. However, be clear about what you will and will not accept. It’s acceptable to say “I require [goal and reason]. It would help if you had [goal] for what I think is [reason]. What can we do to meet each other partway?” Unfortunately, sometimes you may need to wait until the other party is willing to make concessions.
7. Know when it’s time to walk away
Ultimately, there are going to be people in this world with whom you cannot negotiate. Sometimes, a person might just want to see how far they can push you before you walk away. Always enter circumstances knowing where your “hard line” is. Sometimes, walking away will put a lid on negotiations. In other instances, however, it will communicate that you are not someone easily taken advantage of and negotiations may not only resume but also go much more smoothly.
Peaceful but firm negotiation tactics do not come easily for everyone. Don’t be afraid to practice these tips in front of a mirror or with a friendly partner to help you feel well-prepared. Confidence and assertion take practice, but they are skills more than worth their effort. Good luck!
Sources: www.topresume.com & www.pon.harvard.edu