Negotiation is a necessary skill for any person to have. It’s not solely about winning and losing but also about learning how to improve negotiation skills so that future discussions won’t be as difficult or costly. This article is a compilation of the most important aspects you need to know if you are new to business negotiations.
Regardless of whether it’s buying or selling, there’s something here for anybody. Negotiations can be a nerve-wracking and frustrating process, but the tips in this article should help make things easier for you.
Besides, if you intend to become an entrepreneur, the article about how to start a business while in college can come in handy. It gives free advice on where you can actually get funding for your startup. Go for it. Moving on, here are our tips and tricks on becoming a better negotiator.
1. Keeping Calm and Reading the Other Party
The first thing to remember when negotiating with someone else is that they are probably feeling as nervous as you. It’s important not only to think of how we feel at those times; try putting yourself into your counterpart’s shoes. Here are some crucial reflective questions and tips.
- “What might I want or need more than anything else right now if push comes to shove without any agreement yet being reached between us?”
- “What do they want and need?”
- “What’s in it for me? How do I find what that is before we start negotiating?”
- Always allow room for compromise. This will create harmony between both parties instead of one walking away feeling victimized by their opponent.
- Donate something valuable (time/money) before starting negotiations.
- Always keep things professional despite any emotional turmoil.
Negotiation is a delicate art. When negotiating for your company’s best interest, you have to strike that perfect balance between being firm but reasonable. The best way to ensure you’re negotiating the terms of your business’s success is to know how human brains work. It all starts with understanding that people are motivated by emotion first and logic second.
To make sure that your negotiation strategy includes both, keep in mind what kind of decision-making process someone will go through before making a purchase or signing on the dotted line.
2. Preparation and Tactfulness
Negotiation is an art form. It’s not just about coming up with the best offer and seeing if you can get your point across; it takes finesse as well! It’s important to plan ahead so there isn’t any uncertainty in what needs doing. During prep, just learn to become a better negotiator. Then stack up on tactics. Tips?
- Get inside knowledge on market trends and what’s changing in today’s economy.
- Research the market value of your product or service; have an idea about what you want in return.
- Keep a negotiation journal – list all offers made by other employers before discussing them with the current employer.
- Send “marriage ultimatum” emails where the offer can’t go lower than last month’s rate unless there has been significant improvement since then.
Remember, not all negotiations will need a lot of skill or expertise. Sometimes, one party has more knowledge than another in their field; this doesn’t mean this party should take advantage of them by making demands without consultation first.
3. Keeping in Mind That Money Matters
Money talks. Money matters. In a negotiation about finances, give the other party concrete numbers instead of ranges. When someone is selling jewellery and tells their buyer that it’s worth between $500-750, then the other party can go as low or high on their final offer because there are no limits in place other than those two points.
Don’t yield so quickly; remember to remain positive during negotiations while still pushing hard for what matters most.
4. The Power of Silence
“In the world of negotiations, one strategy that is often overlooked but can bring about some success is silence. Silence has a way to throw off your counterpart and affect their decision-making process.” It’s important for negotiators not only to look into what you’re saying but also be aware if someone else might take advantage by making concessions because then they may counteroffer with something better.
Silence may be the perfect negotiation strategy for a number of reasons. First, it can convey that you are not intimidated or afraid to make demands. Second, silence also has an impressionistic quality that makes people hesitant in their responses because they want whatever is being communicated through this formality (even if it’s something negative).
Of course, with some practice, anyone could use silence effectively. Some individuals find themselves holding eye contact, while others keep quiet entirely but maintain body language consistent enough so as not to give off any unintended signals about what position they might take.
5. A Win-Win Approach
Some might think it’s best to negotiate based on a win-lose mindset, but this will only lead them and their partners down the path of mutual antipathy. However, when both sides are looking out for themselves in negotiations, they may not think about what is good for the bigger picture, which could mean losing business opportunities for them!
Good dealmakers push forward by negotiating towards an agreement with give-and-take on both ends so everyone feels like they have something meaningful coming away from these talks.
Final Thoughts
The tips we’ve provided can help anyone get started on thinking about how to leverage the power of human psychology in their negotiations. If all this sounds intimidating and you need someone with experience, let them know. For those preparing for a life-changing negotiation, it might be best to have a tutor.
If you’re in a business negotiation, it can be tempting to focus on the things that will make your company look good. However, there are other important factors that should not be overlooked if you want to ensure a successful outcome for both parties involved. Following the five key takeaways from this blog post may help make negotiations go more smoothly and lead to better outcomes for everyone at the table.
Article Submitted By Community Writer
