How to Negotiate Any Deal, Any Time
Do any of these scenarios sound familiar? Have you ever been involved in a situation where you felt you were treated unfairly, yet you didn’t know how to resolve it? We all face situations like these most every day. Of course, the easiest “remedy” is to just keep quiet and not deal with the problem. But, in reality, the best remedy is to negotiate a resolution so the matter can end.
The first thing you need to do is keep your emotions in check. This means, don’t try to cry, shout, swear, whine, moan, or groan your way into getting what you want. This simply won’t work. Act like a mature adult and try to keep your emotions contained, no matter how loud the other person might get.
On the same hand, don’t allow yourself to fall for tricks. Don’t fall for a pity story given to you by the other party. Some people- and believe me, I’ve been involved in plenty of negotiations- will use whatever device they can to make you feel sorry for them, especially when it comes to money.
Other people will try to bully, or force, you into taking the deal they’re offering you. Stand firm and don’t give into their pressured tactics either.
Maintain a certain detachment of your feelings whenever you negotiate. This allows you to sit back and look at the situation calmly.
Second, before you begin to actually negotiate your deal, determine exactly what you want. For example, saying to yourself, “I want to buy a brand new Ford truck, and I want to pay the lowest price”, is too vague. Instead, you must decide exactly what the highest amount you’re willing to pay is.
Or, if you’re going to negotiate a raise with your boss, you can’t think, “I’m going to ask for more money.” Instead, be more specific. “I’m worth at least a ten percent raise.”
Third, keep in mind that negotiating is all about compromise. They’re not usually “all or nothing” deals.
Now, let’s look at an example of how to negotiate a deal, any time. Let’s pretend (or maybe not) that you’re one of the estimated five per cent who are unemployed in the United States. You’ve done your homework; written up a killer resume, and now you have some interviews lined up.
The ABC Company offers you a job. However, the pay is too low and the benefits are too skimpy. Keep your emotions in check and think about how much pay you think this job is worth to you. Does the company give enough vacation days compared to other companies? If not, how many vacation days would be fair? How many holidays would you get off work in a year? Think about all the benefits the company offered, as well as the list of benefits you would like to receive.
Next, determine your “highs” and your “lows.” That means, figure out how many vacation days, for example, you would like to receive, and the least number you will accept. “I would like to start out with three weeks vacation a year, but I would settle for two weeks.” Go through your list and do this with each item.
When you negotiate with your prospective employer, don’t be afraid to ask for the highest amount. This is a good point to start from. Your prospective employer will be negotiating with a list of his/her own as well.
When two parties negotiate, it’s simply a matter of give and take in order to come to terms with each other.
Take your time when you’re negotiating. Don’t jump at the first offer that’s made. Listen carefully and repeat the offer out loud.
Remember- know what you want, what you’ll be willing to give up, and what you absolutely must have before you sit down to negotiate. And, be prepared to give and take, and you’ll always come out a winner!
