Negotiate Like a P.R.O.


Whether you're negotiating a peace settlement in a war-torn country or a peace settlement in an argument-ravaged relationship, strong preparation is the key to success.

The following three steps will help you establish the three keys to your preparation - why you are involved in the negotiation, how you intend to conduct the negotiation, and what are the specific outcomes you are hoping to agree upon.

1. Purpose

Knowing why you are engaged in a negotiation may seem obvious in some situations (to buy a lamp, to stop a fight, etc.), but more complex negotiations generally have more complex purposes.

Ask yourself:

-Why am I negotiating?

-What are the potential benefits?

-What do I ultimately hope to achieve?

2. Result/Relationship Balance

A "transaction" is high result/low relationship - we get what we want, and the other person is incidental to the exchange. Buying a used car is generally a "transaction".

"Relationship-builders" are meetings, calls, and exchanges of value where developing the relationship between the two parties is far more important than the actual tangible "result" outcome. Early meetings in any project are usually "relationship-builders" - what gets done is far less important than connections being made.

A true "Deal" is where there is a high emphasis on both getting what you want and enhancing your relationship for the future - this "win/win" thinking takes more time and effort, but is essential in any sort of long-term agreement. Successful political (and marital!) negotiations are always predicated on achieving this balance.

Give yourself the following test:

If you had 20 points to distribute between creating the Result you want and enhancing the Relationship, how would you do it?

Example (Result/Relationship):

15/5 - Transaction

5/15 - Relationship builder

10/10 - Deal

3. Outcomes and Options

When it comes to negotiation, having a clear outcome, goal, or target in mind has been shown to be one of the primary determinants in how things come out.

Ask yourself the following questions:

-What specifically do I want?

-What specifically do I think they want?

-What are some plausible options that will get us both what we want?

Bonus Tip: If you're using this to prepare for an important negotiation, take some extra time to answer the questions AS IF you were the other person in the negotiation. You will be pleasantly surprised at the insights you gain from this process.

Have fun, learn heaps, and the next time you negotiate, do it like a P.R.O.!

Michael Neill is a licensed Master Trainer of NLP and has written over 450 articles on in the areas of business success, money, relationships, health, happiness, well-being, and spirituality. His weekly coaching column is reprinted in newspapers and magazines throughout the world, and can be found online at http://www.geniuscatalyst.com







Related News



No room for US negotiation: CNMI Governor - Radio Australia

Radio Australia

No room for US negotiation: CNMI Governor
Radio Australia, Australia -Sep 3, 2008
[ABC] The governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas in the Pacific says there's no room for negotiation with the US on the law that would put ...

MILF says DDR is okay, but… - Inquirer.net

Voice of America

MILF says DDR is okay, but…
Inquirer.net, Philippines -Sep 6, 2008
By Charlie Señase COTABATO CITY, Philippines -- The Moro Islamic Liberation Front, in pushing for another round of peace negotiation with the government, ...
Moro group expresses fear on the government's decision to abort ...Minda News
Opposition rejects Nograles’s proposalSun.Star
Peace panel with MILF dissolvedManila Bulletin
GMA news.tv - Inquirer.net
all 352 news articles

NITEL: NCP invites BNP Paribas for negotiation - The Punch

NITEL: NCP invites BNP Paribas for negotiation
The Punch, Nigeria -Sep 1, 2008
By Everest Amaefule The Technical Committee of the National Council on Privatisation has invited BNP Paribas Consortium for negotiations on modalities for ...

Newcastle takeover negotiation on Monday - NDTV.com

Newcastle takeover negotiation on Monday
NDTV.com, India -4 hours ago
Reports said Ambani's representatives will start negotiations tomorrow with the Premier League club owner Mike Ashley, who has been in the centre of hate by ...

Negotiation strategies help boost leverage - Arizona Republic

Negotiation strategies help boost leverage
Arizona Republic, AZ -Sep 3, 2008
4, 2008 12:00 AM My name is Marty Latz, and I am the founder of Latz Negotiation Institute, a national negotiation training and consulting company, ...

Negotiations: Egyptian revelations - Milwaukee Small Business Times

Negotiations: Egyptian revelations
Milwaukee Small Business Times, WI -Sep 5, 2008
Whether you visit Cairo’s Khan el-Kahlili bazaar, founded in 1382, or a small port bazaar, expect your negotiation skills to be tested. ...

Culpepper retires - The Gazette (Montreal)

Culpepper retires
The Gazette (Montreal), Canada -Sep 4, 2008
What you're probably unaware of was that, until recently, Culpepper was on the Alouettes' negotiation list, giving Montreal exclusive CFL rights on him ...

Thornburg needs more negotiation time - Bizjournals.com

Thornburg needs more negotiation time
Bizjournals.com, NC -Sep 3, 2008
Thornburg Mortgage has once again extended the deadline of its preferred stock tender offer as it continues to try to nail down the details of a bailout ...

• Saucon teachers set to strike - The Express Times - LehighValleyLive.com

• Saucon teachers set to strike
The Express Times - LehighValleyLive.com, PA -9 hours ago
Since then, negotiations got stuck on salary and health benefits, both sides said. No negotiation sessions are planned. But the teachers hoped early notice ...


Mediation team to meet on Monday - Nation Multimedia

Pattaya Daily News

Mediation team to meet on Monday
Nation Multimedia, Thailand -2 hours ago
Senate speaker Prasobsook Boondech said he will discuss with the mediation team on Monday the protesters' condition that they will enter a negotiation to ...
Abhisit blames PM for not dissolving HouseBangkok Post
PAD says no to talk with GovtNation Multimedia
prasobsook takes mediator roleNation Multimedia
all 81 news articles