“Sunday Negotiation Insight”
“Keep your enemies close but keep your friends closer. Your friends will insulate you from your enemies, but only to the degree you choose your friends wisely.” – Greg Williams, The Master Negotiator & Body Language Expert
“Pay Attention To Who You Befriend”
This article is about positioning, perspective, your friends, and the fact that you’re always negotiating. So, be careful of what you do today and with whom you do it. Today’s actions will shape tomorrow’s opportunities.
Points:
1. Take the time to really know those closest to you. Really understand what motivates them per the actions they engage in and what/who influences them. Your friend’s actions will influence you. Their actions will influence you because the two of you share similarities (i.e. same thought process, same environment, etc.) They will do so even if you lack the willingness to disempower them. Thus, the impact they have on you will impact the perspective you have of yourself and your environment.
2. Watch what others do when positioning you for their benefit. Be mindful of their actions and intent (you’re always negotiating). Attempt to only let those that will benefit you into your closest of circles; that’s not to say that you should be selfish, do so from a self-protective perspective. With some people, you’ll be able to completely let your guard down knowing you have nothing to fear. Those are your true friends.
3. Question your friends’ mind and actions per the beliefs they have (i.e. why they support certain actions/policies/positions). That will give you insight into the way they think, why they do so, and how their thoughts influence their actions. That will also give you insight into how you might fit into their plans, which will disclose why they act the way they do with you.
Since your associates, and more so your friends, have such a profound influence on you and your future, you should be very mindful of who you allow close to you. Once you heighten your mindfulness to that, you’ll attract and associate with friends that share more commonalities than what you have now. That will lead you to a more robust and beneficial life … and everything will be right with the world.
What does this have to do with negotiations?
When you enter into a negotiation, you do so with a state of mind that consist in part, of those that you associate with. Thus, you’ll negotiate based on all of the thoughts, sources of motivation and insights gleaned from others, especially your closest friends. That becomes the makeup through which you’ll view the other negotiator and his actions. Thus, the more aware you are of those that shape your perspective, the better you’ll be at shaping the perspective that serves you best. That mindset will allow you to win more negotiations.
What are your takeaways? I’d really like to know. Reach me at Greg@TheMasterNegotiator.com
Remember, you’re always negotiating.