You’re a project manager in a startup. How can you develop negotiation skills?

I LOVE the world of negotiations. This is one of the areas people shy away from the most. Here are points to amp your prowess: Leverage! Recognize your value and benefits. Make sure its crystal clear by the end. Preparation. Gather as much info as possible about the other party and the deal context. Devil is in the details. Pay close attention to what is said and not being said, map their position. Stay Neutral. Keep your emotions in check and strive to understand others to create a positive atmosphere. Try to aim for Win-Win. Look for solutions that benefit all parties involved, fostering long-term relationships and respect. BATNA. Sometimes the best negotiation strategy is to leave if needed. Reflect, learn, then capitalize.

As a project manager in a startup, developing negotiation skills is crucial for effectively managing stakeholders, resolving conflicts, and driving project success. Here are some strategies to help you improve your negotiation skills: Understand the Basics: Start by familiarizing yourself with the fundamentals of negotiation, including key concepts, strategies, and tactics. Learn about different negotiation styles and approaches to identify which ones align best with your personality and goals.

Not that easy where you are not selling yet selling. Share your experience, use cases rather than the product. Sharing toward users sentiment. To feel that you are with them. You know what they are facing. Do not set too many objectives in one meeting. Setup achievable next steps in stages. Plan well the stages and move them one by one.

Practice Active Listening: Effective negotiation begins with active listening. Take the time to truly understand the needs, concerns, and perspectives of the other parties involved. Ask clarifying questions, paraphrase their points, and demonstrate empathy to build rapport and trust. Prepare Thoroughly: Before entering into any negotiation, thoroughly prepare by researching the other party's interests, objectives, and potential areas of compromise. Define your own goals and priorities, and anticipate potential objections or challenges that may arise during the negotiation process.

Focus on Win-Win Solutions: Aim to find mutually beneficial solutions that address the interests of all parties involved. Avoid approaching negotiation as a zero-sum game where one party's gain is another party's loss. Instead, look for creative solutions that maximize value for everyone. Be Assertive: Assertiveness is key to successful negotiation. Clearly articulate your needs, preferences, and boundaries while also being respectful of the other party's perspective. Stand firm on important issues while remaining open to compromise on less critical matters.

Build rapport and trust: ?? Establishing a positive relationship with the other party is key to successful negotiations. Building rapport and trust can make the negotiation process smoother and increase the likelihood of reaching a mutually beneficial agreement.

Sinceridad y humildad. Dar lo mejor de ti es la mejor receta para afianzar una relación estable a largo plazo. En una star up no sirven los atajos porque no hay antecedentes.

This is an inward objective compared to the outward objective of building customer trust. Here, consider a focus on developing stakeholder interests one on one and then getting their buy-in to share their respective interests on a no name basis if required. Then meetings with agendas would be appropriate. Get all the cards on the table. Focus on assumptions and getting clear on mutual goals and interdependencies to reach those goals. After all this, negotiation for people, processes, budget and technology is more persuasive if correlated to data.

At this point, you should know the most about the product, its job to be done, its vision, its financial impact to reach the goals, and if applicable, profit for sales. If you have situational awareness as defined by the points above, you can exercise discretion to reach in an informed decision quickly, and if needed iterate.

Be flexible and creative: ?? Flexibility is essential in negotiations, especially in a startup environment where circumstances can change rapidly. Being open to alternative solutions and thinking creatively can help you find win-win scenarios even in challenging situations.

Es el precio de una Start Up. Siempre hay que tener presente que no tenemos histórico ni referencias donde agarrarnos, es por esto por lo que se debe ser flexible y creativo para llegar al objetivo final.

La clave del éxito es tener, a parte de información que demuestre y respalde tu producto o servicio, dotes comerciales para ser capaz de convencer a nuestro futuro cliente.

Use data and evidence: ?? Support your arguments and proposals with relevant data and evidence. In startup negotiations, where decisions may be more data-driven, having solid evidence to back up your points can significantly strengthen your position.

Learn from feedback and experience: ?? Actively seek feedback from past negotiations and reflect on what worked well and what didn't. Continuously learning from both successes and failures can help you refine your negotiation skills over time.

La experiencia es un grado y el arma más valiosa. Si no la tienes, búscala y aprende todo lo que puedas. Y si la tienes, también. Nunca es suficiente en el mundo de la venta.

Here’s what else to consider: ?? Take advantage of resources such as books, online courses, or workshops focused on negotiation skills. Practicing negotiation scenarios with colleagues or mentors can also provide valuable insights and help you hone your skills in a safe environment.