Developing Negotiation Skills
Negotiation is a very common process in life. It might be negotiating with the boss for a raise or negotiating with someone to get something they are selling. No matter the context, there are ways to improve negotiation skills and achieve better outcomes that please both parties. According to pain management specialist Dr. Jordan Sudberg, the following five significant steps will help develop negotiation skills.
1. Understand the negotiation process.
There are four main steps to negotiating. The first step is understanding the process of negotiation. The second step is to identify goals in a negotiation, which will help stay on track with the negotiator. Thirdly, be aware of BATNA (Best Alternative To Negotiated Agreement). Lastly, understand that there are both direct and indirect negotiations.
2. Learn the art of persuasion.
The art of persuasion is not the same as manipulation. Persuasion is getting a person to accept the point of view on an issue, while manipulation is bringing that same person to do something they do not want to do. To persuade a person, first learn some essential tools to help with this. A standard tool used in negotiation is the power of questions. Questions must be directed towards finding mutual goals and values between two parties without revealing what is wanted.
3. Pick the right tactics for the situation.
There are different negotiation tactics, but there is a need to evaluate the environment and know what would work best with who is negotiating. For example, dealing with a close person rather than a stranger would be better to use relationship-based tactics. On the flip side, if the negotiation is about someone or something which has no connection with any side, then using empathy-based tactics would be better. Another tactic is using a positional approach to persuade the opponent early in a negotiation.
4. Understand when to use emotions and when to keep them at bay.
Emotions can sometimes get in the way of a negotiation, but that does not mean not having them. Usually, people feel angry, hurt, or frustrated during a negotiation, so it would be best to use some emotional skills while negotiating with the opponent. However, it is vital to understand when emotions are necessary and what will make them more effective. Some emotions that to use include sadness, anger, and fear.
5. Understand what to do in mistakes.
While negotiating, there are times when mistakes arise. That’s okay because that is how mistakes are supposed to happen. Some mistakes committed during a negotiation include rushing an issue, getting too aggressive, or proposing something that is not beneficial. The key is to learn from the mistake and be better the next time around to continue creating agreements.
According to pain management specialist Dr. Jordan Sudberg, being a master at negotiating and not consistently achieving the best outcome is impossible. Still, it’s a must-try as many of these points as possible to grow the negotiation skills. These skills can help one in their career, such as getting a raise from their boss or getting more money from a business partner.