Business Negotiation

Win a Business Negotiation in 3 Simple Steps

Learn about some common truths and myths and the three steps to take to ensure that you’ll come out of a business transaction with the arrangement you want.

Getting what you want does not always come easily. You have to work for it. But, if you are properly prepared, you can conquer almost any business dilemma. Things do not always go as planned, and it can be tough trying to negotiate with someone who just will not budge. There is a myriad of information out there that deals with ways to properly negotiate.

A lot of this information is made up of misleading myths, and when it comes down to it, you can win a business negotiation in three easy steps. Before you rush out right away and start trying to make deals, read a little bit more about some common truths and myths and the three steps to take to ensure that you’ll come out of a business transaction with the arrangement you want.


Most Popular: 10 Negotiation Techniques to Make You a Better Entrepreneur

Step 1: Pick a strategy and stick to it

One of the biggest myths out there is that negotiations should be a  win-lose situation in which one clear winner will rise to the top. People who  are more competitive tend to take this viewpoint, but where does that leave the  rest of us? Of course the win-lose strategy is always available for you to  choose, and if that’s your prerogative then go ahead. But what you should  strive to do is create a win-win situation.

Imagine this: you and a client are negotiating a deal with three key  elements. Your firm resolve about not budging on any of the three points is  beginning to intimidate your counterpart, and eventually he caves. Is that what  you want? Instead, try to look at it from his perspective.

You are facing a cutthroat negotiator with whom you really need to  strike a deal, but you’re starting to feel like you are never going to get the  sale price you want out of the negotiation. You feel your grasp on the  situation slipping away, and he comes out victoriously. Would this make you  feel good? Would you want to do business with him again? Doubtful on both  counts.

As you can see from the example, a win-lose situation really isn’t  that great unless you’re the winner. Creating a win-win situation can open you  both up to new opportunities because there is no resentment and you both walk  away from the situation feeling satisfied. So, when you pick a strategy and  stick to it, try to go for the win-win option. You’ll consolidate time and keep  everyone open to future projects.

Step  2: Understand the other side

One huge myth that ties in with this step is that people think  negotiations are always daunting, critical tasks. In reality, they don’t have  to be as long as you research and plan. Understanding the other side can let  you prepare yourself in advance and figure out how to counter offers that  you’ll anticipate the other side will be making. Knowing a little extra  information about the other side can help assist your negotiations favorably.

For example, let’s pretend you are entering into negotiations with a  company that is facing bankruptcy. Without this critical piece of information,  you would enter into the transaction with certain assumptions about the  company’s performance and maybe even assume they were doing relatively well.

This could leave you at a loss, because if they need something from  you, you actually would have much more leveraging power, and you’d know how to  use it if you’d done your research.

This is just one easy example to illustrate how a lack of information  and understanding can detract from your ability to obtain a favorable outcome.  Of course, you should never be subversive, but you should always try to  research what points and counters the other side is likely to bring up so you  can then formulate ways to discredit those points.

Understanding the other side can make your job of negotiating much,  much easier. You wouldn’t make a speech to the President without rehearsing  what you’re going to say or anticipating what questions he might ask, would  you?

Step 3: Know your objective; don’t be afraid to walk

One of the most pervasive myths in the negotiating realm is that if  you walk away from something, that’s the end. In reality, deals and  opportunities will often come back around. Walking away from something won’t  preclude you from striking a deal in the future. You can’t predict what  position the other side (or your side) will be in next time around you’re  negotiating with each other. They may end up needing something from you and be  willing to concede more in favor what you want.

Knowing your ultimate goal is important in this situation.

When you have a clearly defined objective ingrained into your mind  before you begin to negotiate, you’ll be less likely to be influenced by your  emotions and may end up agreeing to a deal just because you didn’t want to pass  one up. It’s okay to say “no” and it’ll be easier for you to do so when you  know exactly what you can and can’t budge with.

Remember that negotiators are made, not born, and  you can always learn how to improve your negotiating skills. These three simple  steps can help guide you to the winner’s circle each and every time.

Originally published August 2013.


StartupNation exclusive discounts and savings on Dell products and accessories: Learn more here

Total
0
Shares
Leave a Reply
Related Posts