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Collaborative Negotiation Strategies

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
4 views2 pages

Collaborative Negotiation Strategies

Uploaded by

Farkas Zoltán
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Negotiating

For some, negotiating is about winning. For others, it's about compromise. But if we think about it as a
collaboration, often both sides can get what they want.

Whether you're negotiating a multimillion dollar deal, agreeing on your role in a project or simply
persuading your colleagues to go for Chinese food for lunch, effective negotiation skills can help you to
motivate other people, get the best results and improve profitability.
There is often a misconception that negotiating is about insisting on our point of view to get our own
way. Conversely, others assume that negotiation is all about compromise and that we have to be ready
to forget 50 per cent of what we want.
But thinking of negotiating as either insisting or compromising can damage relationships and leave both
sides feeling as if they've lost. According to Fisher and Ury in their best-selling book Getting to Yes,
there is another way. They argue that collaboration is the key to negotiating successfully, and they
illustrate this by telling the story of the Orange Quarrel. It goes like this:
Joey and Jenny are arguing over an orange. In a win–lose situation, Joey might simply take the orange
from Jenny. Joey would then be satisfied but Jenny would be upset and frustrated. Alternatively, Joey
might find dishonest ways of convincing Jenny that she didn't want that orange after all. Using this
method, Joey might get his way, but he might damage their relationship in the long run.
If they focus on compromise, Joey and Jenny might decide to cut the orange in half. Their effort to share
means that each of them now has half of what they wanted but neither of them is fully satisfied.
However, if Joey and Jenny spent some time talking to each other, they might find out that Jenny in fact
wants the orange peel to make a cake. Joey, on the other hand, loves eating oranges and doesn't want
the peel. In this collaborative scenario, Joey and Jenny are both able to achieve 100 per
cent satisfaction when they realise that Jenny can have all the peel and Joey all the fruit. Yet, according
to Fisher and Ury, too many negotiations end up with half an orange for each side instead of the whole
fruit for one and the whole peel for the other.
The first step to understanding the role of collaboration in negotiations is to realise that it is not always a
competitive situation. One person's 'win' doesn't have to equal another person's loss. Exploring the
interests and needs of both parties can help us see solutions we didn't consider before.
Here are five things we can do to collaborate when negotiating.

1. Know your objectives.


What are your interests in this? Make a list of the results you'd like to achieve. What are your priorities?
Remember that maintaining a good relationship might be one of your objectives.

2. Separate the people from the issue.


Understand the difference between the content of the negotiation and the people who are negotiating.
Try to be objective and manage your negative emotions.

3. Ask questions and listen.


Some people enter a negotiation prepared with a speech about what they want. But as seen in the
Orange Quarrel, it is important to also understand your negotiation partner's interests and objectives.
So, ask questions, listen and get an overview of everyone's situation.
4. Find shared interests.
How different are your interests from your negotiating partner's? Get to know which interests clash and
which ones are shared. An understanding of shared interests will help you see this as an opportunity to
work together rather than a competitive situation.

5. Look at creative options.


The first solution you think of, for example, splitting the orange in half, might not always be the best one.
Think creatively and discuss different alternatives that might work for everyone.
Most people have positive intentions and they do want to get along, even in potentially tense situations.
By showing that we are professionals capable of collaborating, we can not only please everyone
involved but also set a strong foundation for future negotiations.

Common questions

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Negotiators can employ creative strategies such as expanding the pie, bridging, and log-rolling to ensure both parties achieve satisfaction. "Expanding the pie" involves finding ways to increase the resources available so that both parties can gain more. "Bridging" requires identifying underlying interests and crafting new options that satisfy both, similar to the Orange Quarrel where different parts of the orange were desired. "Log-rolling" involves trading off on less critical issues for gains in more important areas. These strategies, when creatively applied, help preserve primary objectives while maximizing the collective outcome .

The first solution in a negotiation might not always be the best because it often represents a surface-level compromise without fully exploring the interests and needs of both parties. Negotiators can better approach finding effective solutions by engaging in creative problem-solving, which involves brainstorming alternative options, considering long-term implications, and assessing how well solutions meet the priorities of both parties. This approach encourages a thorough exploration of possibilities, ensuring more satisfactory and sustainable outcomes .

Asking questions and actively listening are pivotal in negotiation as they enable one to understand the other party's interests and objectives fully, beyond their initial demands. This approach, highlighted in the Orange Quarrel story, allows participants to gather comprehensive insights into the counterpart's needs, which is essential for finding mutually beneficial solutions. It facilitates a deeper understanding of both shared and divergent interests, promoting a cooperative atmosphere where solutions can be crafted collaboratively rather than devolving into competitive bargaining .

Viewing negotiation as a win-lose scenario often leads to adversarial relationships, leaving one or both parties feeling dissatisfied or even hostile. This perspective discourages open communication and creative problem-solving, narrowing the possibilities for mutually beneficial solutions. In contrast, a collaborative approach fosters a cooperative environment where parties work together to understand each other's needs. This can result in innovative outcomes where all parties feel their interests are respected and met, promoting stronger ongoing relationships .

Maintaining a professional attitude during the negotiation process is significant because it helps establish an atmosphere of respect and trust, which is crucial for effective communication and cooperation. A professional demeanor demonstrates commitment to the negotiation process and willingness to work collaboratively, which can prevent misunderstandings and conflicts. This positive interaction not only facilitates a successful outcome in the current negotiation but also sets a strong foundation for future negotiations, building long-term relationships that can prove beneficial over time .

The Orange Quarrel story illustrates that viewing negotiation as a collaborative effort allows both parties to potentially achieve complete satisfaction. In the story, Joey and Jenny initially think they need to compete for the orange, leading to possibilities of dissatisfaction or damaged relationships. However, through collaboration, they discover Joey can have all the fruit while Jenny gets all the peel, satisfying both parties fully. This demonstrates that collaboration in negotiation avoids the pitfall of half-measures, which tend to leave both sides only partially satisfied, and allows for solutions where both parties achieve their true objectives .

Separating the people from the issue is crucial because it helps maintain objectivity and manage emotions during negotiation. By distinguishing between the personal and the substantive aspects of the negotiation, individuals can focus on the actual content of the negotiation rather than personal conflicts or emotional biases. This clarity reduces tensions and facilitates a cooperative environment, fostering successful negotiation outcomes by ensuring that discussions remain focused on resolving the issue rather than being derailed by interpersonal friction .

Identifying shared interests can transform a negotiation by shifting the perspective from competition to collaboration. When negotiators understand which of their interests align, they can form the basis for cooperation, seeing the negotiation as an opportunity to generate mutual benefits. This approach diminishes the adversarial aspect of negotiation, leading to solutions that are advantageous to both parties. Focusing on shared goals allows for creative problem-solving and often uncovers options that a win-lose mindset would overlook, resulting in outcomes that reinforce positive relationships and future collaborations .

Understanding the interests and objectives of negotiation partners enhances opportunities for mutually beneficial outcomes by clarifying what each party truly values. This understanding reveals areas for potential cooperation and shared values, which can be used as a foundation to develop solutions that satisfy both sides. By focusing on interests rather than positions, negotiators can craft proposals that align with underlying goals rather than getting stuck on inflexible demands, ultimately resulting in more successful and satisfactory agreements .

Defining clear objectives and priorities before entering a negotiation sets a framework for what one wishes to achieve and helps assess the importance of various outcomes. It ensures that negotiators remain focused on their goals throughout the process and aids in determining what trade-offs are acceptable. This preparation prevents being inadvertently swayed from one's core interests and helps negotiate sustainably, balancing immediate gains with long-term relationship goals .

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