Negotiation is a crucial form of communication, no matter how much people hate doing it. Whether it happens in a workplace or during a transaction, a negotiation does not always equal a conflict. Embrace the fact that the conversation is about communicating needs, writes Sara Lindberg in a recent Business Insider article.
Those negotiating must be open to compromising and saying no if they don’t like the offer—for a higher chance of success, Lindberg says to come prepared, optimistic, and ready to actively listen. More experts weighed in on negotiation tips, including:
1. It’s not a fight. One of the biggest reasons people avoid negotiating with someone else is because it feels like a conflict. Most see these conversations as “win-lose,” afraid that “the other side will win and they will lose,” Marianne Eby, a negotiation expert and CEO of Watershed Associates, told Business Insider. However, a well-done negotiation can be a win-win—Eby says all it takes is “talking with a goal in mind.”
2. Start with positivity. Having an optimistic mindset is the best way to begin a discussion about needs. If you doubt your worth right away, it’s likely you won’t get what you’re negotiating for. “Start from a positive posture, believe that you are going to succeed, and operate accordingly,” Joy Altimare, career expert and chief engagement and brand officer at EHE, told Business Insider.
3. Ask for what you want. Don’t get trapped negotiating what the other side wants—stick to what you need and make sure it is clearly stated. “Even if the other side asks for something different first, still get your original ask on the table,” Eby explained.
4. You’re always negotiating during the negotiation. Body language, eye contact, and your choice of words can have an immediate effect on the discussion from the minute you sit down to begin the negotiation, Altimare told Business Insider. “Always challenge first offers, even when it’s better than you were expecting,” Eby says. If not, your conversation partner won’t feel like they got a good deal and you’ll wonder if you did, too. Use facts and be confident.
Read about more negotiation tactics to get the most out of future discussions.
Source: “9 negotiation tips for people who hate negotiating” Business Insider (May 3, 2018)
