How do you use emotional intelligence in negotiation?

1 Know your emotions

Before you enter a negotiation, you need to be aware of your own emotions and how they affect your behavior and decisions. For example, if you are feeling angry, anxious, or defensive, you might be more likely to react impulsively, make unreasonable demands, or miss opportunities. To avoid these pitfalls, you should try to calm yourself down, identify the source of your emotions, and acknowledge them without letting them take over. You can also use positive emotions, such as confidence, curiosity, or gratitude, to motivate yourself and create a positive atmosphere.

4 Influence their emotions

The final aspect of emotional intelligence is social skills, or the ability to communicate effectively and influence others. Social skills can help you persuade, negotiate, and collaborate with your negotiation partner, as well as handle conflicts and disagreements. To influence their emotions, you should use emotional appeals, such as stories, examples, or testimonials, that resonate with their values and beliefs. You should also use nonverbal cues, such as eye contact, facial expressions, and gestures, to convey confidence, sincerity, and interest. You should also adapt your style, tone, and pace to match theirs and create rapport.

5 Apply emotional intelligence

Now that you are familiar with the principles of negotiation based on emotional intelligence, you may be wondering how to apply them in various situations. To illustrate, when negotiating a salary raise, it is important to be aware of your emotions and not be too greedy, desperate, or insecure. Additionally, it is essential to understand the emotions of the other party and be sympathetic to their budget constraints, expectations, and priorities. Furthermore, it is necessary to manage your emotions and not be too aggressive, defensive, or emotional. Lastly, you should attempt to influence their emotions and demonstrate how your skills, achievements, and contributions can add value to the organization and deserve recognition. Similarly, when negotiating a contract, it is important to be aware of your emotions and not be too rigid, impatient, or overconfident. Additionally, it is essential to understand the emotions of the other party and be understanding of their needs, preferences, and limitations. Furthermore, it is necessary to manage your emotions and not be too confrontational, dismissive, or sarcastic. Lastly, you should attempt to influence their emotions and demonstrate how your proposal meets their interests, goals, and concerns, and creates a win-win situation. Lastly, when negotiating a conflict, it is important to be aware of your emotions and not be too angry, resentful, or guilty. Additionally, it is essential to understand the emotions of the other party and be empathetic to their feelings, motives, and actions. Furthermore, it is necessary to manage your emotions and not be too hostile, defensive, or passive-aggressive. Lastly, you should attempt to influence their emotions and demonstrate how your perspective, feelings, and needs are valid and important, and how you can work together to find a fair and respectful solution.

6 Improve your emotional intelligence

Developing emotional intelligence is not a trait that is predetermined at birth, but rather a skill that can be honed and improved with practice and feedback. To help you become more emotionally intelligent in negotiation, here are some tips to consider: Gather feedback from others on how your emotional intelligence affects your negotiation outcomes and relationships; take time to reflect on your emotions and how they shape your behavior and decisions; read books, articles, or blogs on emotional intelligence and negotiation to learn from the experts and best practices; and practice your emotional intelligence skills in everyday interactions with your colleagues, friends, or family, paying attention to how they react and respond to your emotions and how you can influence theirs.