Low-down on Negotiations (Part III)

Ok, the final part cometh ...

Alright, just some final quick thoughts on negotiation I have :

1) Always go for a win-win deal. These are the ones which help seal lasting partnerships and promise greater trust and cooperation in the future. Win-Lose deals in your favour only act as once off advantages and trust me, you won't be seeing much of the other party after this deal is concluded.

2) Think of what you can offer instead of what you want. You may not think so but there may just be something you can offer at very little or no cost to yourself but may make a world of a difference to the other party. Even if you try to offer something which is not so helpful to the other party, at least he or she will appreciate the fact that you tried and maybe try to do the same for you.

3) Be professional and attack the points not the people. Lets face it, there will always be times when you will be fighting with your counterpart for a better deal and even be tempted to go into personal biases like "He's always so stubborn" or "Why can't she just see it from our perspective". Its common for both sides to fight on the points of the deal but one should always recognise the the people sitting across the deal table is just doing his/her job, just like you. Respect that fact and be professional enough to duel on subject matter.

4) Have fun with everyone. Just like everything else in life, having fun will go a long way in deal crafting. Take some time to know who you are working with because chances are if you pull it off right, you will all be working closely a lot more. Work with people on the deal and get to know them more. And just when you see more turf of your recently-pulled out hair starting to appear on the table, it may just be time for a break, which is excellent for bonding. All work and no play make for pretty long and fruitless discussions.

Hope this trilogy of posts on negotiation has been as fun a read as it was for me to pen it... Good luck and have fun!