Negotiation

Articles and Information about Negoatiation

NetFinancial | Institutions | Loans
Colleges and Universities | Search Engines

Negotiate to Your Advantage


The hardest and most important part of any negotiation is knowing when to walk away.

Few things are sweeter than a successful negotiation session where both parties leave the table with a winning solution. That's because the stakes are high: Negotiate too hard and you lose the deal; be too timid and you may not get what you want.

The three most important concerns in any negotiation are the relationship, the risk, and the value--the real decision criteria underlying any future business transactions. So whether you're negotiating a salary increase with your board or a contract with a vendor, before beginning the process it's critical for you to cross three essential mental bridges:

1. Clarify the relationship. "What is the current real and perceived business and personal relationship, and what is its true value to my credit union's future?" Far too often people hold on to the past not realizing that they need to let go to be free to reach out for something better.

Carefully consider what could be lost in this negotiation, but also what new doors may open should there be successful negotiation. Too many business leaders continue with existing relationships beyond their prime simply because it's easier and more comfortable than striking out to develop a new relationship that better suits their organization's future.

2. Clearly structure the outcome both parties desire. Very often, people enter a negotiation with the drive to win, but they never commit to paper beforehand precisely what that means. Yes, they have a general idea (to place the contract at the best price or cost); however, they haven't defined the optimal combination of price/cost and all other terms that reflect both parties' best long-term interests.

Identify what it will take for all parties to believe they've been treated fairly. Outlining what each party should view as a "great deal" often leads to the optimum win-win agreement. After all, negotiating is merely a more formalized variation of common marketplace bartering. It's all about give and take and each party's perceptions of value. You offer. They counter. You respond. And so it goes.

3. Determine your walk-away point. The hardest and most important part of any negotiation is knowing when to walk away. Decide when you'll walk away from the deal before the negotiation process, because it's difficult to identify it in the heat of the negotiation.

It's important to approach your walk away point calmly, as negotiators truly need to understand what each side requires to make it a "great win-win" agreement. Then, if the other side becomes unreasonable and prevents your desired outcome from happening, weigh the predetermined value you placed on the relationship as well as ask the question, "Do we really have a mutual relationship or merely one party taking undue advantage of the other?"

Once you've laid out the previous three steps you can begin negotiation, realizing that at times the process requires the patience and confidence to be still. For example, if the other party precipitates a long silence then wait, say nothing, and let the other party break the silence.

While it's important to hold out firmly for your high priority/risk issues, holding out for a lost cause isn't in your best interest. Know when to give in on a point. If it's not a walk away issue, then concede and negotiate onward.Most important, realize when you're approaching the walk away point. That will help you try and steer the negotiations away from falling unnecessarily into a downward spiral, where relationships deteriorate and from which it's often impossible to recover.

Copyright 2005 by John Di Frances.

John Di Frances is an internationally recognized organizationallegacy expert and motivationalspeaker. http://www.difrances.com


MORE RESOURCES:

BBC News

Israel, Hamas Truce Breaks Down, Prisoner Exchange Negotiation Stalled
AHN - Jul 4, 2008
Gaza's Islamic Hamas rulers responded by suspending negotiations to free a long-captive Israeli soldier. The June 19 truce has been shaky from the beginning ...
Hamas suspends Schalit talks over Israeli 'truce violations' Jerusalem Post
This Week In Palestine – Week 27 2008 International Middle East Media Center
all 1,687 news articles


Times Online

Zimbabwe run-off no basis for negotiation -Nigeria
Reuters South Africa, South Africa - Jul 4, 2008
"We are looking for a diplomatic solution so that the parties involved will go back to the negotiating table." Mugabe's supporters have questioned the right ...
Video: Bush Weighs New Sanctions on Zimbabwe AssociatedPress
African Compromise On Zimbabwe Sky News
Mugabe to confront his critics at Africa summit International Herald Tribune
Politicsweb - Africasia
all 6,136 news articles


Central School sale mired in price negotiation
Tasley Eastern Shore News, VA - 12 hours ago
By Carol Vaughn • Staff writer • July 5, 2008 PAINTER -- The sale of Central High School to a New York furniture designer is still pending nearly a year ...


American Israeli Paper Mills Ltd: Negotiation for the Acquisition ...
FOXBusiness - Jul 2, 2008
There can be no assurance that an agreement can be reached, but if the negotiations mature, the transaction will be brought to the approval of the Company's ...
American Israeli Paper in talks to up Carmel stake Reuters
all 10 news articles


Radio Festival 2008: industry heading for tough music rights ...
guardian.co.uk, UK - Jul 1, 2008
Behind all this is a looming negotiation that will be vital to the future health of both industries. The performing rights societies are looking to ...


Syrian FM:Current talks with Israel preparatory to direct negotiation
Xinhua, China - Jun 30, 2008
"As in any negotiating process there are ups and downs ... the important thing is to keep the two sides involved in these talks until reaching this base," ...


Peru, China reaffirm will to negotiate FTA
Xinhua, China - Jul 3, 2008
Araoz said the Peruvian negotiation team, formed by members of Mincetur, is also discussing with the Peruvian private sector to take their position into ...


BBC News

Spokesman: US to shift to others if missile defense talks with ...
Xinhua, China - Jul 1, 2008
It will all depend on the pace and structure of the negotiations," he said. However, the spokesman also noted that "If for some reason those arrangements ...
Video: US Defence Sec. calls Lithuania 'a good missile site' RussiaToday
Wladyslaw Stasiak wants talks on Polish-US strategic partnership ... Polish Radio External Service
Lithuania says no talks on hosting US missile shield Canada.com
AFP - Today's Zaman
all 838 news articles


Abbas says little progress achieved for Palestinian-Israeli ...
Xinhua, China - Jun 30, 2008
SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt, June 30 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday said here that the ongoing peace negotiation between the ...


Times Online

Uribe savours his greatest victory
EuroNews, Italy - Jul 3, 2008
The success of the operation to free Betancourt is a vindication of Uribe’s determined stance in the face of those who have argued for negotiation for ...
Video: US hostages freed from Colombian rebels - 03 July 08 AlJazeeraEnglish
Rescue puts guerrillas closer to the history books Globe and Mail
Peace dividend guardian.co.uk
Reason Online - New York Times
all 4,738 news articles

Negotiation - Google News

Currency Trading | Investing | Leadership | Negoatiation | Real Estate | Stocks and Mutual Funds | Taxes
home | NetFinancial | Institutions | Loans | Colleges and Universities | site map
Search Engines | EZmatic | 0pops | GetSonic | TrafficFish | Health
© 2006