How to Negotiate More Effectively
Negotiation is useful in a wide range of business areas, but bad negotiation often means broken business deals and unsuccessful client meetings. There are several ways you can learn to negotiate better, and it all starts by being the one willing to make the first leap. Let go of your fears, step forward, and be the first one who puts an offer on the table; that’s how a negotiation starts.
Remember that silence can be used to your advantage. When the other party responds to your offer, leave it a little while before you respond, especially if their response was negative in anyway. We tend to talk more when we’re nervous, so by going offline for a few days, you’re showing that you have better things to do with your time than be told your offer is too low.
Plan for the worst. Expect the best. These are words to live by, especially in the business world. By planning for the worst, you’re setting yourself up to face what might be an inevitable situation, you’ll do everything you can to gain a positive outcome, but if it doesn’t happen, you know you’ve done your best. Obviously, if the outcome is favourable, then you’ll have nothing to worry about.
Seek the opinion of others when you’re negotiating. Negotiating alone is difficult because the only other person that you’re talking to is your client or business partner. You’ll want a few outside perspectives from people who understand your business; this will keep you focused.
