Negotiation can seem intimidating. And it’s no wonder why: employment negotiations, salary or bonus negotiations, buying a house, or engaging in big sales transactions at work are high-stakes situations that we tend to dread.
But negotiating isn’t only about deals.
Negotiation happens every day: with our families about what we’ll have for dinner; with our bosses about what work we’re going to prioritise; and with peers we’re trying to persuade to help us.
We have two broad types of negotiation strategies: those that help you “claim” value, or get more for yourself or your organisation; and those that help you to “create” value, or increase the pool of resources available for all parties to claim.
But within those groups, there are plenty of tools we can use to arrive at outcomes that ensure both parties get the advantages they seek.
Why is it useful?
Most of us have little knowledge or skill in negotiation. Of course, when a negotiation arises, we can only use what we know. And if the only tool we have is a hammer, every time a challenge comes up, we’ll give it a whack.
But what happens if that doesn’t work?
If you don’t have a range of tools, you’ll just whack your hammer harder, and that’s unlikely to solve the problem if it isn’t a nail.
The more you understand about negotiation strategy and structure, the more options you have for handling different negotiation situations. Then, if one tool doesn’t work, you can throw it back in the toolbox and choose another.
That’s where Leda comes in: we can help you fill out your toolbox, by learning and practicing a range of negotiation techniques.
