Negociation Tips
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
Start slow, if possible: It sometimes takes a while to get a feel for the person you will be negotiating with, and if time permits, it is generally a good idea to get your feet wet before jumping in.
Come in over-prepared: The more you know about the other side and the facts, the better equipped you are to get what you want.
He who offers first, loses: Typically, when you make the first offer, you are setting an upper limit on what you can get. For instance, if you want a raise and tell your boss that you want $5,000 more a year, you will never find out that her budget would have allowed you to get $7,500 more. So try and not make the first offer.
Have some good tactics ready:
- •Silence: When offered a number you do not like, instead of responding, instead say nothing. .. continue to say nothing. .. if the other side talks first, it will likely be to raise the offer and break the uncomfortable silence.
- •Flinch: An "involuntary" flinch is likewise used to make the offeror uncomfortable with the offer. Any sort of similar "shocked" response may work in the right circumstances.
- •Good cop/bad cop: The good cop earns the other side's trust by being reasonable talking about what a jerk the bad cop is. He can then make offers or offer rejections that the bad cop cannot.
Remember it is a negotiation: Their job is to get what they want. . Do not take it personally. But always keep in mind your bottom line and do not negotiate below that number/offer.
Be willing to walk: The willingness to walk away from the deal or table is the key to a strong negotiating position. This is the real leverage in any negotiation.
Via.
Tags: negociation tips, negociate, tactics