People don’t know that they should learn to negotiate. They think negotiation is something that only people in boardrooms do, or something that involves large sums of money. Or even an activity involving hostages and balaclavas!
But, really, negotiation is just about wanting something from someone else and finding a way to make it happen.
In his bestseller “Never Split the Difference: Negotiating as if your life depended on it”, Chris Voss shows how negotiating skills can be applied in various contexts, from the mundane to the high stakes. He argues that even though negotiations might seem daunting or reserved for high pressure situations, the principles of negotiation are applicable to everyday scenarios.
At its core, negotiation is simply about communication and understanding. It’s about figuring out what you want, expressing your needs, considering the needs of the other party and anticipating and responding to any setbacks. It’s about navigating obstacles and reaching agreements.
We do this in our homes every week when we have the discussion about which takeaway food to order. This is no less a negotiation than what goes on at the UN. Maybe the stakes are higher at the UN and the issues are more complex … but the discussion about whether tonight should involve sushi or pizza is still a negotiation.
When we are weighing preferences, considering options and reaching agreements, we are negotiating; and these skills are valuable in any negotiation, whether it’s over dinner or in a boardroom.
So, despite negotiation’s image problem, it’s clear that we’re all negotiating all the time. And with the right mindset and skills, we can navigate all negotiations more effectively.
Isn’t it time we learned more about it?