Come to meetings prepared
The first and perhaps most important aspect of negotiations, according to Addicted2Success.com, is preparation. The better prepared you are, the less the likelihood of your being caught off guard and the more likely you will be able to find the optimal solution.
Keep emotions in check
Try not to take anything from a negotiation personally and maintain a calm demeanour throughout. Your emotional state has a significant influence on the extent to which other participants allow themselves to be swayed by emotions during the discussion.
Seek to understand the true motivations of all participants
People often have specific demands during negotiations that may seem illogical to others who do not understand why these demands are so important. Frequently, they are rooted in deeper motivations and reasons others are unaware of. Strive to get to the heart of the matter, set aside specific requests for a moment, and determine what is truly important to each party.
Seek compromise
The aim of negotiation is not to win at all costs; rather it is to find a solution acceptable to everyone. Try approaching the problem from a completely new perspective and find a compromise no one may have yet considered but it represents the best outcome for all parties involved.
Learn from every negotiation
To continuously improve your negotiating skills, it is essential to learn from each negotiation. Always ask yourself afterwards what you overlooked or underestimated, what you could have done better and, on the contrary, what went well.
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