The quotes by world statesmen may be confusing without the right context. “There is more to life than increasing its speed.” – Gandhi “Never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today.” – Benjamin Franklin The tendency is to follow the most straightforward and comfortable path. But, almost always, the more robust way is the right […]
There is usually an excellent reason for something: for doing it, for not doing it. Often we tell the other party this reason. We then think of another idea, and we give that as well. Then a third reason occurs to us, and we add that in for good measure. The problem is that each […]
Knowing what you need to know is essential to negotiating well and deriving a better result. So, ask the right questions and then listen to the answers carefully. Every major negotiation, domestic or international, succeeds or fails because people chose to listen or not listen to the other side. When not listening, most likely, they are also […]
“Let’s set up a conference call. We are not too thrilled with your customer service and support. And, of course, we will see if we want to continue to spend this kind of money. We will discuss our contract at the meeting.” This was the call my client received from a significant customer of his […]
Let us face it. Life is a negotiation. You negotiate with your spouse, your children, your colleagues, even your commercial alliances and competitors… the list goes on. If you have read, “The World Is A BAZAAR – LIFE IS A NEGOTIATION – Skills to inject success, creativity, and fun in your life, relationships, and work,” […]
Know the other side’s benchmark It’s also important to consider who or what your negotiating opponent has selected as a yardstick. In all likelihood, she wanted favorable comparisons, which may cause her to be overly optimistic about what she can achieve. If so, try to help her adjust her aspirations and work with her to […]
You have an effective lead generation program. Sending a potential customer your company brochure or directing her to your website is secure. Even setting up a follow-up in-person meeting may be quite straightforward. Selling her on the services your firm offers could be hard. Entrepreneurs and executives alike often go to great lengths to explain […]
What do Tom Brady and Michael Phelps have in common? They know how to respond under pressure. Sports professionals frequently freeze under pressure. However, it is not limited to just sports. It happens in negotiations too. When asked an unwanted question, I have witnessed negotiators freeze like a deer caught in the headlights. This […]