Tag Archive for: procurement

In negotiations, are you freezing like a deer caught in the headlights?

  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 […]

Oh! The Winter Blues

Oh! The winter blues. It is temporary, I promise. While you are waiting for the spring, just shrug off the restlessness and invest in yourself. No, I am not talking about rushing to the gym to develop that chiseled body. I am talking about sharpening your negotiations skills. Do you know that the world’s greatest leaders […]

The Non-compromising battle between compromising Democrats and compromising Republicans

Americans love sports yet recognize the necessary flexibility in negotiating (trading) and therefore, are proficient compromisers. For instance, the Democratic Party is a fair compromise between Socialism and Practicality. The Republican Party is a reasonable compromise between Dictatorship and Neo-Liberalism. The Bernie Sanders Progressives are a decent compromise between radical liberalism and Reagan conservatism. The […]

Email, Phone, or In-Person

Several subscribers and clients have asked me if it is okay to negotiate by email. The answer is ‘Yes’ and ‘No.’ Let me explain. It is essential to recognize where you are in the negotiation process. During the preparation phase, the primary focus is on exchanging preliminary information, setting goals, prioritizing issues and the “Walkaways.” […]

Agree or Walk-Away?

In a negotiation, do not agree when it would not be wise to do so. However, also do not walk away from a mutually beneficial outcome. The “Agreement Trap” is the tendency to agree to a deal that is inferior to other available options.  We sometimes buy from a store even though a significantly better […]

Jointly Creating and Claiming Value in Sustainable Way

In an executive training workshop at a Fortune 100 company, one of the procurement executives claimed himself to be an excellent negotiator. He supported his claim by adding that due to his tough stances and tactics, close to half of his suppliers have gone out of business! I will let you decide about the efficacy […]

How to get most out of your training budget? – Part I

Globalization of economies is well under way. International travel is routine. People are getting accustomed to distant cultures. And of course, global commerce and competition are greater than ever. As the world is shrinking to “tiny”, most companies recognize that training is a vital part of staying competitive in this dynamic marketplace.  The question is: […]

Creating and Claiming Value in Negotiations

Work place or life in general is full of negotiating opportunities – be it with your supervisor, spouse, customers or peddler in Egyptian bazaar! Let’s talk about customers here. You are an effective negotiator if you can convince the customer to willingly say yes, and mean it, to a proposal that also meets all your […]