Negotiating is a very interesting term and skill.
You mainly hear of it in business transactions and also with politics.
Donald Trump is infamous for it with his book “The Art of the Deal.”
Negotiations can be used for anything. Children do this when they want to stay up late or do not want to do their homework to go outside and play or when they want to watch TV.
Probably many people negotiate with others every day without even knowing it. The essence of negotiating is talking with another or others to reach an agreement thereby.
That can be in a store where the customer is haggling with the salesperson for a better deal on a piece of merchandise.
And we are all probably familiar with car salespeople and the back-and-forth for the best deal on a vehicle. They are usually flexible with many of these, as they want that large sale for their anticipated commission.
But I think you hear of this term, the actual word itself used in business and politics.
In business, it has a lot to do with contracts. In politics, it has to do with contracts concerning treaties, etc.
But whether it is contracts, politics, the better cost for merchandise, or staying up late, all of it has to do with an agreement and obtaining this.
Whether or not you are an excellent or lousy negotiator depends on how much agreement you get. And that determines your success at this.
Some people have a lot of leverage in this area. For instance, you hear or read of many athletes negotiating multi-million-dollar contracts because of their talent and skill in their particular sport. And you also hear of actors and actresses who can command mega-millions per picture deal because of their box office draw.
So, both sides win.
And I think that is what is so favorable about negotiating. It involves two people at least, and you talk till an agreement is reached.
You are not necessarily fighting. One person is not the dictator.
It is a mutual back and forth till everything is ironed out, including possible disagreements, upsets, etc.
Then it is usually finalized with a handshake or signature.
What is good about these negotiating meetings is that all the cards are put on the table. When it’s completed, it is like everything has been addressed. So, each party does not leave the table with incomplete communication.
And because an agreement has been reached, there are no undone issues left. No loose strings left hanging.
This is probably why the best and most vital domestic negotiators are divorce lawyers. Where real lives are at stake, and especially those of children, you need people who are very skilled in this to bring what is usually totally hatred that has been brought to the table (and many times with absolutely no communication now between the parties) to some form of an agreement. Now, at least, each party can move forward instead of being stuck in a forever hang-up that festers and boils.
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Clifford Woods is the President and Financial Manager at Marketing Results International
