Negotiation Skills for Business, Salary and Debt

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

MORE ARTICLES:

Child Custody Arrangements - How to Negotiate the Best Arrangement For Your Child
We all want the best for our kids, whether it's the best schools, the best opportunities and even the best arrangements when it comes to child custody The first thing we must realize is that cutting our ex spouse out of our child's life in order to hurt the spouse is NOT what's best for the child

How To Negotiate A Settlement With An Insurance Claims Adjuster
You and I. M.

Negotiation Skill Training - How to Hone Your Negotiation Skills
Everyday we come face to face with situations that test our ability to negotiate. Though you might not give it much thought, a lot of negotiation happens with people we meet and choices we make. Whether it's over a meal with your hubby, at the supermarket with the saleslady or during a lunch meeting with your boss, we need to grasp the basics of a negotiation skill training to make the most of these everyday deals.

Flexible Working for Working Mums: How to Negotiate It When Your Boss Is A Dinosaur
There is little to match the exuberance or ecstatic feelings that you and your whole family share when a new arrival is on the way. This is one of the most momentous times of your family life and for an expectant mother can be simply amazing.

Negotiate to Your Advantage
The hardest and most important part of any negotiation is knowing when to walk away.Few things are sweeter than a successful negotiation session where both parties leave the table with a winning solution.

10 Tips On How To Negotiate
In some time or another in your life you will have to negotiate Good negotiating skills are not only valuable, but also essential when buying property

How to Negotiate Effectively
You may be thinking, "Gary, I am a mom, housewife, or stay-at-home dad, so why do I need to know how to negotiate effectively?"I'm glad you asked.The truth is everyone needs to negotiate.

Negotiate Lease Renewal Early
Negotiate Lease Renewal Early Why Begin Commercial Lease Renewal Early Office, retail, and industrial lease renewal must be started long before the option expires to exploit the advantage you may have to hold the rent down and allow the negotiation of a fair lease agreement with the landlord

How to Negotiate Rates with a Freelance Copywriting Expert
Lots of people who seek out my copywriting services are concerned about money. Rightfully so.

Brainstorm Options Before You Negotiate
A common mistake is to go into a negotiation thinking that there is only one acceptable outcome: what you want. One of the best things you can do to prepare for a negotiation is to think about all the possible options that may exist for you and the other side.

Real Estate Investing: Sales and Negotiation Skills are Critical
Do you want to build wealth through real estate? You need expertise in two critical areas: specific investment strategies and sales and negotiation skills. But if knowing how to identify good deals is what's really important about investing in real estate, why do investors need to worry about their sales and negotiation skills?"Knowing how to identify good deals is certainly a critical part of real estate investing, but it's not the only part," says Russ Whitney, internationally recognized real estate expert and bestselling author of Millionaire Real Estate Mentor (Dearborn Trade Publishing).

How to Negotiate Debt Settlements
Knowing how to negotiate debt settlements is the key to securing your financial future. Debt negotiation is the process where in you will contact your creditors and will appeal to them with an offer to pay off the amount you owe in easier installments that decrease the principal quicker.

Negotiation Skills Training: The Sales Multiplier Close
Negotiation skills training:

Negotiation Skills Tips: How To Get The Most From a Job Interview
There are few more stressful events in your career than interviewing for a new position. It makes little difference whether you are interviewing for another position with more responsibility within your present organisation or if you are exploring new opportunities - the stakes are high.