There are several factors that come into play during a business negotiation. Becoming a master at this skillset is not easy and takes much practice. Business negotiation, a skill acquired over an extensive period of time, is one that can be highly beneficial to all.
In order to become the most experienced negotiator in the room, there are certain steps and techniques that can be used to your advantage. You legal strategy depends on being prepared.
Here are a few ways that you can become a master at the art of business negotiation.
Make a clear strategy
This is the most critical step in any negotiation. It is imperative that you come up with a plan or strategy and to consider all possible outcomes and opportunities. By having a set plan, you automatically have an advantage over your counterpart. Do your research. Come prepared to expect the absolute best-case scenario while at the same time expecting the worst-case scenario. Negotiations can go all kinds of ways: upwards, downwards, even sideways. One cannot simply predict how a business negotiation is going to play out, however, you can be prepared prior to by implementing a clear strategy that you know will work for all scenarios.
It is also wise to have a backup plan in case your original strategy doesn’t go as planned. Stick to your strategy and be confident that the strategy you have set out is going to be beneficial to you in the end. To ensure you have success in your negotiation, experts offer negotiation training and consulting to make sure your plans are in place and you know how to prepare for important negotiations.
Prepare to be upfront and firm
Experienced negotiators are aware that everything is negotiable. By having that mentality, you shift your attitude from aggressive to assertive and will see that negotiations tend to go more smoothly. There is a difference between being overpowering and being bold. You can be bold and confident in what you believe without coming off as threatening or aggressive. Refrain from using “you” statements and turn those into “I” statements.
Stay clear of becoming hostile or insensitive to the other party’s feelings and needs. Instead, protect your interests by being assertive while respecting the interests of your counterpart. Be confident in what you are bringing to the table and remember to never bring hostility as there is no room for it in any business negotiation.
Tweak your demands and expectations
When entering a negotiation, you must understand that not everything is going to go your way. The demands and expectations you bring forth may be complete opposites of that of the other party. While it is hard to change what you want, you have to be willing to allow wiggle room and change your demands to best suit the overall outcome of both parties. It may be that the negotiation is taking a turn for the worse, but with the implementation of effective techniques, any bad negotiation can be turned around entirely.
Be willing to walk away
You must be aware that some negotiations are going to end with you having to say no and walk away. This is perfectly normal in a business negotiation. Realising that the deal is no good and that it is going to negatively affect you, then you must give a firm “no” and walk away. More times than not, your counterpart will see that you are firm in your decision and is willing to offer an alternative or make a concession. You should never act desperate and by walking away, you have shown the other party you have options (whether you actually do or not) that will likely lead them to cave in and offer a better deal.
These are just a few techniques you can use in order to become a skilled negotiator, however, they are very essential to mastering the art of business negotiation. If you can use these to your advantage, you will be well on your way to becoming the most skilled negotiator in your office.
