“Negotiation skills are the difference between those with more and those with less.” -Greg Williams, The Master Negotiator & Body Language Expert (Click to Tweet)
“Increase Negotiation Skills
This Is How To Get More Of What You Want”
People don’t realize they’re always negotiating.
You need to negotiate with others in your personal and professional life, whether with family members, your boss, partners, vendors, or employees. I argue that you are always negotiating, whether you realize it or not! And the better you are at negotiation, the more likely you are to get what you want from any situation. The following tips will help you increase your negotiation skills and, in so doing, help you get more of everything you want.
Negotiation Can Be Easier Than You Think
Deciding how you will ask for what you want is half the battle. Whether you’re trying to get a better deal on your new car or negotiate a higher salary, knowing how best to approach your goal will make a difference in the outcome.
Many different negotiation techniques have been proven effective in gaining leverage and ensuring positive outcomes. So, it is worth investing some time into learning how best to achieve what you want in any situation.
Asking yourself questions like what I want and how I want to present myself before negotiating is essential. Those questions give you an idea of where you stand before making your pitch. Once you know that, it becomes easier to set boundaries and determine what you need from the negotiation. And from there, it becomes easier to figure out how best to achieve those goals.
It is also important to remember that negotiation is not just about getting something; it is also about giving something up. Thus, if you don’t think you can walk away with anything worthwhile, why bother negotiating?
To negotiate effectively requires two things: strong communication skills and a willingness to let go of your initial expectations. Good negotiators know when they have won and when they have lost. That makes them more willing to accept less than what they sought in their original goal for the negotiation. The key is to walk away without feeling like you have failed. If the negotiation doesn’t work out as planned, try again another day.
Five Techniques To Increase Negotiation Skills
Regardless of what you are negotiating, it is best for everyone involved to feel like they have gotten what they want. For that reason, successful negotiators use tactics that allow everyone to win. Learn how to avoid mistakes in negotiations with these five negotiation strategies.
1. Use body language to build trust.
Before talking about what you want, first, consider how you look. Studies show that as much as 93 percent of communication is nonverbal. People will judge your ability to negotiate based on your posture and mannerisms before speaking your first word.
By paying attention to your body language, you can increase your chances of making positive impressions by using confident gestures (like sitting up straight) and displaying appropriate gestures to compliment the words you use to make your offers.
2. Ask questions.
Many people assume asking questions during a negotiation may place them at a disadvantage. But asking questions allows a negotiator to gather more information that they can use during the negotiation. And, if you paraphrase an offer in the words of the person with whom you are negotiating, it can make it easier for the counterpart to accept it. Paraphrasing will make it sound like an offer they would present.
3. Be prepared to walk away.
If you don’t know what you want going into a negotiation, there’s a chance you could end without a satisfying agreement. Always be prepared to walk away if an offer is too bad to accept.
4. Do not be afraid to disagree.
Disagreements are inevitable during negotiation, but sometimes we let disagreements turn into arguments that prevent us from reaching mutually beneficial agreements. When a severe conflict threatens the negotiation, call a time out.
5. Communicate effectively.
It might seem obvious, but clear communication is essential for any successful negotiation. If you are ambiguous, you open the door to misinterpretation of your offers and position.
Preparing For Negotiations
The best way to avoid surprises during negotiations is to prepare for them. Being prepared gives you a leg up on the opposing negotiator. Here are three things you can do beforehand.
1. Understand your position and that of your opponent.
Before any negotiation, it is vital to understand your and your opponent’s position. Understanding positions help keep both parties focused on getting something from the talks to satisfy their needs. If you lack insights into the bargaining positions, how will you know when you have reached a good agreement?
2. Have a strategy to deal with obstacles.
Having a strategy in place before going into a negotiation is critical. By preparing for obstacles that might impede the negotiation’s progress, you will be better prepared to deal with them should they occur.
3. Know when to walk away from a deal.
If there’s one thing that bears repeating, it is knowing when to walk away from a bad deal. If you stay engaged in what appears to be an unbearable deal, you risk getting stuck with it.
Reflection
Negotiation can be stressful, especially if you are unsure what to expect or are afraid of the outcome. But there are ways to improve your negotiation skills to have an easier time getting what you want when negotiating with others.
Implementing the preceding insights will increase your negotiation skills while enhancing your negotiation outcomes. And everything will be right with the world.
Remember, you’re always negotiating!
Check out this offer to learn more about negotiating better and reading body language!
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