This is your guide to negotiating. As you’ll learn, a successful negotiation isn’t only possible, it’s necessary. If you’re not willing to negotiate for yourself, who will?
Know what you want.
The first step in negotiation is knowing what you want. You should know the value of what you are selling, buying, and negotiating. You also need to know the value of the deal. If you have a long-term relationship with the person on the other side of the table, it might be worth more than just money because it can lead to future deals as well as referrals. The same goes for if there’s a product or service that needs to be provided under contract that can’t be bought anywhere else but from this person or organization. Know all these factors and remember them when bargaining with others!
Set the scene.
Once you and your opponent have agreed to the terms of the negotiation, it’s time to set a scene. This will ensure that both parties are in a comfortable and productive mindset for negotiating.
Build rapport.
The first step to building rapport is to truly listen. You need to fully understand the other person’s point of view if you’re going to be able to connect with them, so focus on being present and really listening when they talk. You don’t have to agree with them, but at least you should understand their perspective on things before trying any kind of argument or persuasion.
You can also build rapport by showing yourself as empathetic and understanding. Showing empathy means validating their feelings—not necessarily agreeing with them, just acknowledging that they exist and that they’re important enough for you not just dismiss them immediately because they don’t fit into your worldview. Try saying something like “I know this isn’t easy for anyone involved,” or “The situation must have been upsetting.” This will help make both parties feel heard and understood instead of dismissed or ignored (which is what many people do).
Start showing your cards.
You’re in a negotiation and want to get the best results you can. How do you ensure that?
- Start by thinking about your hand of cards. Are they strong enough to play? If so, what are they and how will you use them?
- Look at the other person’s hand of cards. What are his/hers and what strategy will he/she follow with them?
Your goal is not just to win, but also for the outcome to be fair for both parties involved.
Ask for what you want.
The most important thing to remember when negotiating is that you are in control. You don’t have to be a pushover or give in too easily. This goes for both agreeing to terms and rejecting them. Your goal is not to get the best price possible–it’s always better to make sure everyone gets what they want, even if it means giving something up yourself!
If you don’t ask for what you want, how can anyone know what that might be? For example: if someone asks if you would like fries with your burger, saying “yes” may seem like an obvious response but it’s actually powerful because now there’s no confusion about whether or not fries will come with your meal (and hopefully they’ll be good). When negotiating a deal also think about what might happen after making an agreement and try not overcommit yourself financially or emotionally; remember that contracts aren’t forever!
Of course there are times when asking directly will lead nowhere–so don’t be afraid of silence while waiting on an answer; maybe a counter-offer will work better than asking directly at all (for example: “I’d love some more coffee but i’m running late so let me get back later”)!
Hear the other side and counter with a better option.
One of the most important aspects of negotiating is listening. This is not only for what you can learn about the other side, but also for what you can learn about yourself and your own position. If a potential employer has offered you a job and you ask them to improve the offer, it’s important to listen carefully to their response. You may find that they are willing to change some terms in order to keep negotiations going, or even increase their offer! Listening carefully also helps us avoid getting defensive when our ideas aren’t received well by others; instead we can be open-minded and focus on finding solutions that work for both parties involved.
How do we go about this? First off don’t interrupt! This is true whether someone else is speaking or if they need time to think through an answer before speaking themselves. It’s also important not get defensive when someone challenges us during negotiations – even if they’re wrong and what they’re saying doesn’t make sense (which often happens) let them finish their thought before responding so that both sides have an opportunity to be heard out fully before moving forward with further discussions or decisions being made
Keep the negotiation going by asking positive questions.
Sometimes it’s important to ask questions to keep the negotiation going.
When negotiating, there are times when it’s appropriate to ask more questions. These are some of the ways you can use questions in during a negotiation:
- To clarify the situation and move forward with discussions (e.g., “What did you mean by that?”)
- To get your counterpart talking more about what they want (e.g., “How would that work?”)
- To demonstrate knowledge or expertise on a topic so that your counterpart will listen to what else you have to say (e.g., “Can I ask why?”)
Negotiate like it’s your job, because it is!
Negotiation is a skill. It’s also something you can learn, practice and master. Just as you probably have a particular way of saying “hello” or “goodbye” to people, negotiation has its own unique language and strategies. For example, if someone asks you how much money they should ask for in salary negotiations and you tell them the exact number first thing off the bat instead of asking questions about their skillset first, most people will feel pressured into accepting your offer (even though it might not be the best fit). Negotiating isn’t just about getting what you want; it’s about making sure everyone leaves happy too!
Don’t be afraid to negotiate and ask for what you want!
Negotiating is a skill that can be learned and perfected. Negotiation is not just about price, and it’s not just about money. It’s also about getting what you want. The best way to learn how to negotiate is by practicing with lower-stakes situations until you’re comfortable with the process before taking on any more important negotiations.
There are many different negotiation tactics that you can use when trying to get what you want in a situation where someone else has more power than you do (like your boss). If you’re negotiating higher-stakes situations like salary increases or promotions, it’s important that both parties feel they’ve gotten something out of the deal so they don’t feel like they’ve been taken advantage of or cheated out of something valuable at the end of their time together. This means making sure everyone feels respected throughout the process and leaving enough room for follow-up conversations if necessary after agreeing upon terms for further discussion later down the road – especially if there are details still left unresolved as part of this initial agreement between parties involved!
The most important thing is to make sure you’re prepared before you step into any situation where you need to negotiate. Also, remember that it’s a process and not something you can expect to get right the first time. But it should never be an intimidating or stressful experience either! Be calm, do your research beforehand so that everything else during negotiation becomes easy peasy lemon squeezy (err… we mean smooth sailing).
You’ve got this!
