Negotiation is one of the most important skills that an entrepreneur must have or learn during their path in business. Many people consider that the concept negotiate is when someone is actually trying to manipulate and gain power over the other person or party for something they want, when in fact the purpose of it is to reach to a point with the other person where both can benefit.
Below are 5 ways to negotiate better for something, it applies in business and also in some situations in life:
Use or prepare the environment to your advantage
It is important to clarify that environment is not only place, but also things, objects, time or other factors that affect the present situation on both sides. There are many ways to put the environment to your advantage to negotiate better, like arranging the meeting in a likeable place to the other person or bring a gift as incentive.
Using the time factor also helps sometimes to negotiate better, one example is when there is a product which the other person had for stock for long time already, and then you can discuss for a good discount.
Know more about the other person’s interest
There are two approaches to know more of the other person’s interests, the first one is to do some research, find out what the other person do, how he or she does it, what are their main goals. Have this gathered information on hand when you are going to negotiate, bring them to the conversation to show them that you are interested in what they do and in helping them to achieve their goals.
The second approach is to listen to the other person, let them speak about what they want from you to get to their goals; listening more than speaking yourself is probably one of the best ways to negotiate better. However, if you listen too much and don’t speak at all, it may send the wrong message, repeating from time to time what the other person is saying shows that you are following the conversation.
Knowing more about the other may give you new ideas to find an agreement or a solution, where both can find a win-win position.
Speak in terms of why you want instead of what you want
To negotiate better, you have to ask yourself first why you want what the other person has, clarify yourself your own interests, what are the core benefits that you will get from what the other person can offer. Share this with them; be honest and generous while sharing it, so the other person will feel more trust and respect towards you, and will understand better your requests.
Find common interests with the other person
Bring up more alternative topics during the conversation, ask for the other person’s opinion and agree with him or her. The more things you share in common, then the more you agree with the other’s way of thinking, and important, the less you say “NO” or disagree during the negotiation, it shows to the other person that you actually want to find a solution which both will benefit from it, this decrease the risk that the other person might disagree with your proposals.
Control your emotions
When you negotiate, there is always something you are giving up to the other party to get what you want, if the outcome is beneficial at your side, then the sacrifices might not be much, but it can also go the other way. Do not take things personal if it doesn’t go well, and also don’t get negatively emotional during the negotiation with the other person, it can also show that you care about what you want only, and not what they want.
Do you use other ways or methods to negotiate better? Please share your comments.