The world would be a great place if everyone agreed with you. I would love to have everyone agree with me all the time, but that’s just not how the world works. If you want to get what you need, you will have to perfect your negotiation skills.
During business negotiations, all parties involved are on somewhat uncertain terrain, as everyone only has their own interests in mind. You can look at these negotiations as a game in which the players try to outsmart one another, and you can be sure that every single one of them has done something to stack the deck in their favor, well before the corporate game of wits had even begun.
In order to run a successful business you must work on improving your business skills, especially your negotiation skills in particular. By following the 4 simple steps outlined below, and practicing regularly, you’ll be able to become an exceptional negotiator within the next few months.
Establishing A Relationship
A good negotiator will first establish a more personal relationship, before moving on to other more advanced tactics. By doing this, you will get a chance to find out a little bit more about the person with whom you are negotiating, while at the same time leaving a good first impression.
People often ignore this and that’s why negotiations can lead to misunderstandings, or even break down entirely.
You need to try to come across as sincere and trustworthy, but avoid giving away information that may harm your interests.
Dignity, integrity and honesty are the three main qualities a person should look to keep during a business meeting, and they are the foundation for any successful negotiation process. You will establish a great position of power only when the person on the other side has respect for you.
Show Your True Face
You will perform a lot better if you show your true face. What does this mean? It means that you should either be a tough guy, who is somewhat aggressive in his approach, or you should be the good guy, who says everything like it is.
The important thing to remember is to show your true self, as most people have the ability to sense your bad intentions. Being overly manipulative, secretive or disingenuous is something that is very noticeable and hard to keep up.
During the negotiation process, you too can notice if the other party is being dishonest and lacks integrity. Nothing can bomb the negotiation process like dishonesty. This sort of things enters the stage when one or both parties are trying too hard to put on a show and present themselves as something they are not.
Show Your Adult Side
Everyone has two sides, an inner child and an inner adult. It is amazing to see how even the most exclusive high-level business negotiations go to waste because one of the participants is acting like a kid, antagonizing other people at the table.
Everyone gets lost – remember this – this is why you should try to keep your cool when you witness something like this during a conversation.
Be the one who is reliable and stable, bringing respect and maturity to the table.
Adjusting others and making them realize they are doing something wrong is best done by setting a proper example. Embody your inner adult and take the high road. Try to understand rather than argue all the time.
Understand The Dynamics Of Negotiations
Always keep in mind that everything has a rhythm of its own, and negotiations are no different. Try not to force things. In most cases, its best not to say anything.
Never neglect the power of silent pauses, as these tools can have a huge impact.
Give enough space and time to yourself and your opponent to reflect on all of the things that have been said.
Avoid being hasty and evaluate the current dynamics of the negotiations.
Try to notice the natural moment for making an aggressive move.
By understanding the value of these 4 points, you will have a solid ground for making business deals that suit your interests.
Negotiations are mostly about relationships. By creating and maintaining professional relationships, our company managed to become a reliable hosting service.
Establish yourself as a professional business and treat your partners with respect and it can lead you to great places in the future.
The author is highly qualified and writes blog posts weekly.
