Negotiation Tips

Most of the skills that can actually help you in life are not taught at school. One of them is the art of negotiation. Most people learn it through experience and by watching good negotiators, few are initiated in to the art by good mentors and some are just natural negotiators. Expert negotiators have a keen understanding of what the person in front of them wants and have a talent to perceive their weaknesses. The weaknesses are exploited through various negotiation techniques.

Negotiation Tips and Techniques
The theory of the art of negotiation has been developing since ancient times, when things were settled either through negotiation skills or through skills with the sword. Even today, things haven't changed much. Only things are settled through either negotiations, sanctions or guns. Diplomacy is a higher form of negotiation. The most important arena in which these tips can come in handy are, our daily affairs in business and life. What I talk about here is generic in the sense, that they may apply to various situations in life. These are principles of negotiation, which can be used in any kind of a deal settlement. It might be a buying/selling deal, a child-parent argument or even a salary negotiation with your boss.

A negotiation is a tug-of-war fight to get an upper hand. There are various factors which can help you get in a better bargaining position.

Make Them An Offer They Can't Refuse
Before going through with a negotiation, think through it and decide what exactly do you want and then try to get as much information you can about the opposing party's expectations and their bargaining position. Be confident and act confidently during negotiations. Do not show hesitation. Have a calm and cool air about you. This will give you an idea about how much can you make them bend and how much are you willing to bend!

Make a straightforward win/win offer. State exactly what you want and what is in it for them. Then hear their side completely. Be reasonable and argue your case and it's advantages for them. Exploit the loopholes in their arguments. Talk in a style which emphasizes what they can get out if this. Chances are that they will see reason. Of course, a lot a depends on how desperately they need the deal to close and how much you do! This may help in debt negotiation.

Never Ever Show Your Desperation!
Whatever be the nature of the deal, never show how desperate you are to get this deal closed! That is like putting your cards down and letting other people know that you have no aces left! That will be the end of your bargaining position. Be it buying, selling or any other type of bargaining, act as if the deal in front of you is just one of the many options you have and cloak your desperation. Do not get carried away in your bluffing! Especially in salary negotiation, do not be the first to quote a number to your prospective employer and if you must quote, quote higher than your requirement! Even in real estate negotiations, do not show your desperation in buying or selling the property.

Use Leverage Offered By Your Position
In certain deals, you have an inherent advantage over the opposing party, in terms of resources, knowledge and power position. In simple words, if you have the knowledge that they need to get the deal closed more desperately than you do, then use it to your advantage! Use the leverage you get by your higher power position to get benefit out of the deal.

Gauge Weaknesses/Desperation and Exploit
A negotiation is a mind game between two or more parties who keep on sparring till they understand each other's weaknesses. So keep sparring and try to sift the bluff of the opposing party from the truth. The moment you spot it, you are in a superior bargaining position as you know exactly what is the key. You must exploit the slightest weakness in the logic of their case or demand.

Feign Helplessness And Dependency
Sometimes, feigning helplessness in giving in to their demands can help. You can bluff that not you but somebody else is the one who makes the final decision and it's not up to you to close the deal. Act as the emissary and make them open up to you! That way, you can show your inability to satisfy their certain demands and also get to know the depth of their need, which will give you an ascending position!

Remember the eternal rule which is 'Everything is Negotiable'. Do not push your demands too far beyond them being reasonable! After all, you may be in need someday and need them. Try to get as fair a deal as possible. Negotiation is a skill which you will get better at with practice, as you get to understand and read people better.