An Idiot’s Course to Successfully Negotiate More Deals

By S. R. Morris

 

A course to assist you in negotiating more successful deals

We all begin learning to negotiate when we’re young. When we’re adolescents, it might involve asking for more allowance or trying to persuade a parent to let us have a dog or cat. We might learn some basic skills to negotiate along the way. The problem is that too many people never get past the first stage: pleading. The five skills in this course will put you in a better position to successfully negotiate more deals without resorting to pleading and get the results you want.

1. Know your goal and focus on your skills

If your goal is to get more deals, concentrate on getting that and don’t be side-tracked by other negotiation issues. Remember when you were younger and you began negotiating for that dog or cat? You would never have settled for a hamster under any circumstances. Keep that same focus in your mind when you negotiate deals.

2. Negotiate your best line of reasoning first

Your best argument may have several points, but when you negotiate always begin with your strongest point. Other points should always strengthen your negotiation position to achieve more deals. An important skill in this course is to think through your best argument and practice it. Rehearse in your mind any possible arguments and responses so that you are prepared for difficult questions. The results are more successful deals.

3. Recognize the other side’s needs

Remember when you tried to negotiate a deal with your parents for that pet? You knew ahead of time, if pushed, what you would offer to do in return. This same negotiating skill applies in our adult world of successful deals. This course will assist you in avoiding major problems and help you anticipate the other side’s wants and needs resulting in more deals.

4. Be quiet, listen and be flexible

Learning to listen is a practiced skill taught in this course. If you were anything like me as a kid, perhaps you too didn’t know when to stop talking and just listen. The same holds true when you negotiate successful deals. Once you’ve presented your case, be quiet.  When you’re listening to the other side, ask questions and be flexible so that you can make some compromises. Just make sure those compromises don't damage your ability to negotiate a better deal or more deals.

5. Try to settle on a win-win outcome

You felt great when you negotiated and your parents agreed to let you have a pet. They were happy when you promised to do the dishes without complaining. When you negotiate a successful deal, the best results are when both parties satisfied. A happy ending for both parties is taught in this course. It is a skill that all successful negotiators strive for in their deals.

You don’t need to risk looking like an idiot in your deals by pleading. The five skills in this course teach how to make you successful to negotiate more deals. Better negotiations result in more deals.

Copyright 2012 By S. R. Morris