Whether you like it or not, negotiating is something that is part of every man’s life. We use it in a variety of ways both in our personal lives and in the business world. Sometimes it’s conflict resolution or convincing your boss you need a raise, and sometimes it’s trying to convince your significant other to go out to a specific movie. And no matter what, the key is to get what you want or need while still not neglecting the other person in the situation. So how can you do this? `
Do Your Homework
Like many things in life, the amount you spend preparing or practicing generally correlates to how successful you’ll be. Before going into a negotiation, make sure you’ve done your research. For example, if you’re buying a car, research the car and the prices in a variety of ways. While researching online is always a great option, be sure to also check out prices at a variety of places and competitors. Armed with this knowledge, you’ll be able to know what’s a good deal and what’s not. You’ll have more leverage in the situation. As the saying goes, knowledge is power.
Listen
According to negotiating expert Ed Brodow, too many people don’t just shut up and listen. He says that negotiators are detectives and that by asking probing questions, they can get what they want. The person on the other side of the table will generally tell you what you need to know. So often it’s easy to just assume what someone is saying or where someone is going in a conversation only halfway through. It’s important to let the other person finish so you have a full understanding. Brodow says by listening, you’ll gain the other person’s trust and gain their respect, which can only help during negotiations.
Acknowledge the Other Person
Similar to listening, it is also important to remember to acknowledge the other person’s needs and wants. It’s far too easy to go into a negotiation by only thinking about the pressures that you have in the situation and completely forgetting that you’re dealing with another human being. For example, if you’re trying to get your cable bill reduced, saying things like, “I understand that you may not be able to help me with this, but can you put me in touch with someone who can?” may go a long way in helping your negotiation. People often are glad to help others out, especially if they are friendly about it.
Think of Additional Solutions
Most people say that it’s best to go for the win-win in a scenario — where both parties walk away happy. While that may be true, it can also be beneficial to think of solutions outside of your original goal. You might go into a salary negotiation with the goal, of course, of getting higher pay. If your employer can’t budge on that, think of other things like additional benefits that, admittedly, may not help your bank account, but they may improve your quality of life.
Negotiating is something that every man has to deal with in his life. Whether it’s big things, like a raise at work or making an offer on a house, or small things like choosing the vacation spot for this year’s big trip, there are a number of ways to get better at it. Knowing how to be a good negotiator will help you achieve the goals, and hopefully strengthen the relationship with the person on the other side of the table.
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