How to Negotiate like A Pro

From experience, I have found that while some people may have the technical skills needed to deliver on a job, most struggle with mastering soft skills such as communication and negotiation which is required for long term growth and success.

And so today, I’ll be sharing some high level insights on the Art of Negotiation and ways you can apply this winning skill in your day to day work and social life. But first off lets understand what negotiation is…

By definition, negotiation is a dialogue between two or more people or parties intended to reach a beneficial outcome over one or more issues.

Now that we know what negotiation is, its also important to know what the key features of a good negotiation are and the principles that guide them so you can look out for these at your next meeting. Holistically, they are that;

? a good negotiation involves 2 parties

? it always has an expected outcome and,

? both parties are usually willing to modify their position.

In my day to day job, I am often given the responsibility of engaging with clients, suppliers, partners, employers and even employees on contractual and other core functions. And I find that some of the best negotiators I have met throughout my career tend to have some main characteristics in their play book.

??First is that they are great listeners and tend to understand how to read body languages effectively.

??They understand the importance of planning and research.

??They clearly define their BATNA, also known as a Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement before hand so they know when to accept or walk away from the deal.

??And they are bargain over interests and not position, which essentially means they always aim for a win-win result.

P.S: If you are wondering how I happen to know a lot about the topic, the screenshot below should give you some insight. At most of the organizations I've worked with, guess who the Board always pulled in to lead or unravel complex deals??...you guessed right, lolz??

So as you go into your next meeting as the negotiator on the team, remember these points I’ve just shared, apply them and chances are that you’ll most likely see your performance level soar through the roof as you work towards hitting the next milestone in your career.

For more information on the Art of Negotiation, I’ve got a link on a training I delivered on the same topic some years ago here. It was relevant then as it is today. Yes, you're welcome??