Negotiation Tactics

Isn't it amazing how some people can just make people agree to whatever they say? I mean, my brother can actually convince a supplier to bring down his prices to half the quoted price, "just for him". But it is truly amazing how the right words, said in the right way and manner, can really make a difference. So, here are a few basic negotiation tactics and tricks that you can try out. Beware though, things can get a little out of control if you take it too far.

Successful Negotiation Tricks

Tactic # 1
Talking tactics in business are the most popular ones. The most basic strategy is the good guy/ bad guy approach. This tactic requires there to be two negotiators. Herein, one negotiator acts tough and non accommodating, while the other is sweet and adjusting. The latter apologizes for the prior and gets the party to compromise on terms and conditions for their benefit.

Tactic # 2
The second of the best and one of the most ethical tactics is preconditioning. In this tactic, the negotiator warns the party to only carry on if they are agreeable to the stated terms. Like the negotiator would get a call from an interested party, he would ask them to carry on with the proceedings of the deal if and only if all the terms of the deal are agreeable to them.

Tactic # 3
This negotiation tactic is not very fair, but works wonders. It involves putting your burden on the party's back. Most people prefer to call this tactic as monkey on the back tactic. In this tactic, the negotiator would put the burden of the deal on the other party. Like, the negotiator could tell the party that the only issue in the deal is that the budget is too low. This way the party would automatically take it on to themselves to see how they can make it work in the said budget. Many people prefer to use this as a method of salary negotiation.

Tactic # 4
Using a higher unknown authority is a great negotiation tactic. Knowingly or unknowingly, we have all used this tactic in our professional or personal lives. In this tactic, in the face of decision-making, the negotiator would tell the party that he would need to convince the higher authorities of the party's terms. In case they agree, the deal could move forward. In this case the party would try to make the deal such that it would sound agreeable for the "higher authorities". This works quite well when it comes to debt negotiation.

Tactic # 5
Many people find that silence is often louder than sound, right? Well, silence works really well as a negotiation tactic as well. The negotiator can stay silent until the party says something that would sound agreeable. The silence of the negotiator, along with strong body language can make the party bend a few lines for them, just to get a response. In our personal lives, we use this tactic as silence treatment, ring a bell?

Tactic # 6
Have you experienced people telling you to "play it low key". It is a classic negotiation tactic, avoid showing your direct interest. It is also used as a really great bargaining technique. For instance, if you really like a certain product at a store, do not let the sales person know of your interest in it directly. This will make him probably hike the price a bit, as he knows that you would buy it nonetheless. Play it cool and tell them that it is good, but you would be interested only if the price is right, this puts the party in the pressure position.

Points to Remember

When negotiating, it is very important to keep these points in mind.

• Be nonchalant about your negotiation strategies. If they seem too apparent the party may read into it, and that may render your tactic useless.
• Keep your body language neutral while you negotiate. People make the mistake of either becoming too aggressive during a negotiation, or seeming to unsure of it. This makes the negotiation seem pointless.
• Be very clear in your mind about the terms that you may agree to. People often keep pushing till they can. This makes the party realize that the negotiator is shooting arrows in the dark. In your mind, you need to know exactly what you are looking for, and what you would adjust with.
• Don't get personal during a negotiation. Many people, while negotiating, get personal and start getting affected by the nuances of the negotiation. Without really being aware of it, they start putting themselves in a more vulnerable position. Avoid getting affected personally during a negotiation.

Keep a keen eye on these points, and your negotiation should go on smoothly.

The best way to counter a negotiation tactic is to carry on with your discussion without getting affected by the tactics. Knowing about them, is the best way to brace yourself and avoid getting affected. Hope this article has helped you a lot. Feel free to leave a feedback. This is where I sign off! All the best!