Imagine you go to a store and find out it has a surplus of inventory and limited space for merchandise. Would this information encourage you to ask for a lower price? Now, imagine the store's products are perishable and nearing their expiration dates. Would knowing the store faces a loss if it doesn't sell the items in time motivate you to negotiate the price further?

You negotiate all the time—whether you're shopping, adjusting schedules, or persuading team members to agree with you. These small, everyday negotiations are chances to advance your goals. In more formal situations, using advanced tactics can make negotiations even more effective.

With so much at stake in formal negotiations, businesses and business owners often choose to lead negotiations themselves. However, they want negotiation preparation before meetings with other parties. 

This preparation involves several steps:

• Establishing a starting point

• Planning responses to counteroffers

• Determining what is negotiable

• Identifying bluffs

In this role, I serve as a professional thought partner behind the scenes, helping you prepare for successful negotiations.

Some prefer to hand off the negotiation process to their attorney. In this role, I guide you through the negotiation strategy to meet your goals.

This involves several key steps:

• Advising you on your position relative to other negotiating parties

• Mapping your comfort parameters at each stage

• Ensuring that I work towards your end goals

By following these steps, we can navigate the negotiation process effectively and achieve the desired outcomes.

Negotiating in the context of a conflict is different from negotiating for gain. The incentives and consequences change.

In a conflict, the goal may shift from achieving gains to ensuring survival. The objective can also change based on the nature of the relationship involved.