How do you avoid common pitfalls and mistakes in your negotiation follow-up emails?

1 Know your purpose

Before you write your negotiation follow-up email, you need to have a clear purpose and goal for your message. What do you want to achieve with your email? Do you want to confirm the details of your agreement, clarify any misunderstandings, address any objections, or propose the next steps? Depending on your purpose, you need to tailor your tone, content, and call to action accordingly. Don't write a vague or generic email that doesn't convey your value proposition, your expectations, or your urgency.

2 Be timely and concise

Timing is everything when it comes to negotiation follow-up emails. You don't want to wait too long and lose the connection or interest of your counterpart, nor do you want to rush and appear desperate or pushy. Ideally, you should send your email within 24 hours of your last negotiation conversation, or sooner if you agreed on a specific deadline or action. You also want to keep your email concise and focused. Don't ramble or repeat yourself, and don't include irrelevant or unnecessary information. Use clear and simple language, and avoid jargon or slang.

3 Show appreciation and empathy

One of the most important aspects of your negotiation follow-up email is to show appreciation and empathy for your counterpart. You want to thank them for their time, effort, and cooperation, and acknowledge their concerns, challenges, and needs. You also want to express your enthusiasm and confidence in the value of your solution, and how it can benefit them and their situation. By showing appreciation and empathy, you can build rapport, trust, and goodwill, and reduce any resistance or friction.

4 Reinforce your agreement and value

Another key element of your negotiation follow-up email is to reinforce your agreement and value. You want to summarize the main points of your negotiation, and highlight the benefits and outcomes that you both agreed on. You also want to emphasize the value of your solution, and how it can help them achieve their goals, solve their problems, or satisfy their desires. By reinforcing your agreement and value, you can increase your credibility, authority, and influence, and prevent any confusion or doubts.

5 Anticipate and address objections

Even if you think you have reached a satisfactory agreement, you may still face some objections or questions from your counterpart in your negotiation follow-up email. They may want to renegotiate some terms, request more information, or express some concerns. You need to be prepared and ready to anticipate and address these objections in a positive and constructive way. You can use techniques such as reframing, probing, validating, or offering alternatives to overcome these objections, and show that you are flexible, responsive, and solution-oriented.

6 Propose the next steps

The last and most essential part of your negotiation follow-up email is to propose the next steps for moving the deal forward. You want to create a clear and specific action plan that outlines what you and your counterpart need to do, by when, and how. You also want to include a clear and compelling call to action that invites them to respond, confirm, or agree to your proposal. By proposing the next steps, you can create a sense of urgency, accountability, and commitment, and avoid any delays or indecision.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?