7 tips for successful negotiations
13 June 2014
Read by 3635 persons
Negotiation is a skill we all use every day without realizing it. But do we really know how to negotiate? Negotiation involves discussion to find a solution that equally benefits both parties.
Based on this principle, negotiating bedtime with your 5-year-old or a major contract with your biggest client is exactly the same.
When you know how to negotiate, you can negotiate anything with anyone… Here are 7 tips to help you become an expert in the art of negotiation.
1- Create a win-win situation
This is the most important principle in negotiation. When you start a negotiation, have a positive and open approach to reach an equal compromise with the other party. If each protects their interests, compromise is difficult to find.
2- Be patient
Negotiations generally take time, and the best way to get a deal that favors one party over the other is to be impatient. So, give your negotiation time, and be patient. Showing patience demonstrates that you value the other party's interests as much as your own. This is a great way to build a long-term relationship.
3- Be creative
Creativity in negotiation helps find new solutions to problems, obstacles and barriers. By identifying the other party's needs, it will be easier to find new solutions that suit both negotiators.
4- Listen actively
To succeed in a negotiation, you need to know what the other party wants. This requires asking questions and listening to the answers: By listening to the other party, you will better understand their needs and goals. Take an interest in the client's needs, what they want, how they work, what creates their success… and you'll know how to sell them your product or service.
5- Gather as much information as possible before the negotiation
Before starting a negotiation, take the time to get to know the other party. By gathering as much information as possible, you will better understand their needs and concerns. This knowledge will make it easier to find a mutually beneficial solution.
6- Trust your counterpart
Trust is the basis of any negotiation because it allows for a mutually beneficial solution. If you don't trust the other party, they will eventually notice, jeopardizing your negotiation. In this case, avoid doing business with them, it will lead to nothing constructive. The same applies if you feel they don't trust you…
7- Know when to walk away
Not all negotiations result in a win-win compromise. Sometimes it's better to walk away… And in fact, good negotiation means being ready to walk away at any time. Just as negotiation is about seeking a win-win compromise, being ready to walk away puts this approach into practice. If a suitable solution doesn't emerge despite creativity, compromise-seeking and patience, it's best to leave quickly.
In conclusion: knowing how to negotiate is above all about having self-confidence! Successful negotiation ultimately comes down to having enough self-confidence to apply the principles above! So, do you have confidence in yourself?
Philippe Montant
CEO of ReKrute
Based on this principle, negotiating bedtime with your 5-year-old or a major contract with your biggest client is exactly the same.
When you know how to negotiate, you can negotiate anything with anyone… Here are 7 tips to help you become an expert in the art of negotiation.
1- Create a win-win situation
This is the most important principle in negotiation. When you start a negotiation, have a positive and open approach to reach an equal compromise with the other party. If each protects their interests, compromise is difficult to find.
2- Be patient
Negotiations generally take time, and the best way to get a deal that favors one party over the other is to be impatient. So, give your negotiation time, and be patient. Showing patience demonstrates that you value the other party's interests as much as your own. This is a great way to build a long-term relationship.
3- Be creative
Creativity in negotiation helps find new solutions to problems, obstacles and barriers. By identifying the other party's needs, it will be easier to find new solutions that suit both negotiators.
4- Listen actively
To succeed in a negotiation, you need to know what the other party wants. This requires asking questions and listening to the answers: By listening to the other party, you will better understand their needs and goals. Take an interest in the client's needs, what they want, how they work, what creates their success… and you'll know how to sell them your product or service.
5- Gather as much information as possible before the negotiation
Before starting a negotiation, take the time to get to know the other party. By gathering as much information as possible, you will better understand their needs and concerns. This knowledge will make it easier to find a mutually beneficial solution.
6- Trust your counterpart
Trust is the basis of any negotiation because it allows for a mutually beneficial solution. If you don't trust the other party, they will eventually notice, jeopardizing your negotiation. In this case, avoid doing business with them, it will lead to nothing constructive. The same applies if you feel they don't trust you…
7- Know when to walk away
Not all negotiations result in a win-win compromise. Sometimes it's better to walk away… And in fact, good negotiation means being ready to walk away at any time. Just as negotiation is about seeking a win-win compromise, being ready to walk away puts this approach into practice. If a suitable solution doesn't emerge despite creativity, compromise-seeking and patience, it's best to leave quickly.
In conclusion: knowing how to negotiate is above all about having self-confidence! Successful negotiation ultimately comes down to having enough self-confidence to apply the principles above! So, do you have confidence in yourself?
Philippe Montant
CEO of ReKrute
