Five Common Negotiation Mistakes You Must Avoid
Five Common Negotiation Mistakes You Must Avoid
Mastering the Art of Negotiation: Avoiding Common Pitfalls for Success
Negotiation is an essential life skill in our personal, social, and business lives. Whether negotiating the terms and conditions for a purchase order with a supplier, a promotional program with a customer or discussing curfew with your teenager – the art, science, and sport of negotiation is an essential skill that can impact outcomes.
Many people need help understanding and dealing with the common pitfalls hindering their negotiation success. In this article, I’ll explore the five mistakes people make when negotiating and how to avoid them.
Mistake #1: Failing to Prepare and Plan Thoroughly
It doesn’t matter whether people are involved in a complex or what people perceive as a straightforward negotiation. One of the most significant errors in negotiation is that people need to do much better with preparation and planning.
It’s tempting to dive into a negotiation headfirst, but successful negotiators invest time in understanding their objectives, knowing their counterpart’s interests, researching, and anticipating potential objections. Preparation and planning are the foundation upon which successful negotiations are built. Without it, you’re navigating uncharted waters blindfolded, and you won’t likely do well.
Mistake #2: Neglecting Active Listening and Not Asking Good Questions
Effective communication is at the heart of negotiation; a crucial component is active listening. People often get so caught up trying to make their point that they forget to listen to the other side. When you truly listen, you gain insights into the other person’s needs and motivations. This information is your most valuable asset in reaching a mutually beneficial agreement.
This mistake is particularly true for most salespeople and sales management. Stop talking, listen, and ask effective blueprinting questions. In our negotiation skills training programs and coaching sessions, we provide our clients with proven best practice questions and questioning techniques they can use to improve results in all their negotiations.
Mistake #3: Letting Emotions Dictate the Conversation
Emotions can cloud judgment and lead to impulsive decisions. Letting your emotions take the driver’s seat can be a negotiation disaster, whether anger, fear, frustration, insecurity or impatience. Instead, practice emotional intelligence. Recognize your emotions, but don’t let them steer the conversation. It’s important to understand that arguing intensifies peoples’ desire to prove themselves right.
Do your best to stay composed and rational when facing challenges. Focus on the process and not the personalities involved in the negotiation. When meeting confrontational or argumentative people in any negotiation or discussion – we recommend that our clients use the “Feel, Felt, Found” technique. We also provide our clients with two powerful questions that will help them to separate “content versus emotion” in any negotiation.
Mistake #4: Neglecting Win-Win Solutions
Negotiation is not a zero-sum game. It’s not about one side winning at the expense of the other. Strive for a win-win solution that addresses both sides’ interests. A successful negotiation leaves everyone feeling satisfied and valued, which can lead to better long-term relationships and future opportunities. I provide my clients with a one-page Negotiating Behaviour Matrix diagram that helps them with their negotiation approach based on concern for substance versus the relationship.
Mistake #5: Overlooking Alternatives
Sometimes, negotiations hit obstacles, impasses, and deadlocks. If you become fixated on a single solution, you risk overlooking alternative paths to success. Always have a Plan B (and maybe even a Plan C) in your back pocket. This flexibility can prevent you from making costly concessions you’ll regret later. It’s also essential to develop your walk-away position in any negotiation – should the terms and conditions not meet your needs. Broadening the scope of negotiations is one of our three rules for negotiation.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the art, science, and sport of negotiation is a critical skill in both personal and business contexts. By avoiding these common mistakes – failing to prepare, neglecting active listening, not asking good questions, letting emotions dictate, neglecting win-win solutions, and overlooking alternatives—you can unlock new levels of success at the negotiation table.
Remember, negotiation is not just about getting what you want; it’s about creating value and building meaningful relationships. So, approach each negotiation with strategy, empathy, and a willingness to explore creative solutions, and watch your success soar.
Take Action and Invest in Our Expert Negotiating Training and Negotiation Coaching Packages, Negotiation Tools, and Online Course to Become a Better Negotiator.
» Negotiating Skills Training: Book a tailored in-house presentation, seminar or learning workshop for your organization.
Speaking Engagements – Industry Associations and Companies: Book a tailored, engaging, and impactful 60-minute to two-hour presentation at an upcoming meeting, conference or convention.
» Negotiating Coaching Packages: If your company is facing a challenging high-value negotiation and you need an expert to help you or your team – or you own a small business – or you’re an individual who needs practical negotiation advice, you can benefit from my investing in one of my three proven, results-producing negotiation coaching packages for individuals, small business owners or corporations.
» Digital Negotiation Learning Products: You can purchase my three E-books containing powerful strategies and tips. E-books: Forensic Blueprinting Questions For Effectively Selling and Negotiating Price or Fee Increases and Managing the Price-driven Sale, Selling and Negotiating Price or Fee Increases in Any Economic Environment, and Strategies and Tips on How to Effectively Manage the RFP/RFQ/RFI or Bid/Tender Process to Optimize Results and Outcomes.
You can also purchase the Negotiating Personality Type and Corresponding Negotiating Style Self-Assessment Questionnaire and Interpretation Results and my NEW Digital MP3 “Greatest Hits” Verbal Negotiating Phrases, Scripts, Questions, and Questioning Techniques. These helpful tools are in digital format and can be easily downloaded.
I provide a discounted Master Negotiator Bundle with all my Digital Learning Products.
» Online Sales Negotiation Course: If you’re in sales, sales management or a cross-functional role that supports sales, you can benefit from enrolling in my NEW self-paced Negotiating for Sales Success online course.
» Meet Negotiating Coach® Michael E. Sloopka
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