Let’s Negotiate!

Negotiate (ni-goh-shee-eyt) To arrange for or bring about by discussion and settlement of terms: to negotiate a loan.  We are negotiating everyday sometimes without realizing it.  Parents and children negotiate everyday for things.  “Take out the trash and I’ll pay you an allowance.”  We negotiate at work for better pay, better work conditions, better assignments.  Sales people negotiate with clients and so on.  Negotiating is rampant in our society.  Presumably if you are a great negotiator you will more often than not get what you are bargaining for.  This could be a raise at work, a better price on that home you are purchasing or a great deal on a vacation.  One would think that given the benefits of being an efficient negotiator that more would be taught on the subject.  That the school curriculums especially business schools would place a high priority on the subject.  Donald Trump probably ranks very highly as one of the best negotiators out there  ”if” one operates on the premise that success in negotiating equals getting the better part of the deal.  By the way, tonight I have someone coming to look at my wifes used car we have up for sale.  The price is advertised for $8900.  Our needs are to get the car “gone” while earning enough money to make a decent enough down payment on a new car so as to keep my wife’s car payment in line with what she pays now.  I don’t know what the needs of the buyer are.  So, I will ask and by finding out what he wants I might be able to learn how we can “both” get what we want and move forward in negotiations.  I’ll let you know how it turns out.  Is being an effective negotiator getting more of what you want at the expense of the other side?  Or, is it getting most of what you want while the other side gets most of what they want?  Which is the preferred outcome?  Can you think of a negotiation where you won and the other side lost?  Can you think of a negotiation where you won and the other side won also?  I’d love to hear your thoughts on this because I know you are all out there negotiating everyday.  What was the last thing you successfully negotiated and why were you successful?  Post it here for us to view.  Thanks. 

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