How full is your “negotiating toolkit”?
Our reader poll today asks: How full is your “negotiating toolkit”?
– Very — I know many great negotiating techniques: 20%
– Kind of — I know a few core negotiating techniques: 42%
– Not very — I know one or two key negotiating techniques: 25%
– Not at all — My toolkit is virtually empty: 13%
Learn the Tools, Win the Deal. It’s surprising that 80% of respondents said they’re “kind of” or less on how full their negotiating toolkit is. The ability to negotiate is a huge determinant of your happiness and success. These skills aren’t only for Procurement people. Negotiating for a day off, a different role, compensation, promotions, and even where to eat lunch as a team can seriously impact how happy and successful you are. I strongly encourage you to fill your negotiating toolkit and learn as many negotiating techniques as you can. Doing so will make you more effective in many areas related to your success and job satisfaction.
Do you agree with these poll results? Let us know in the comments below!
– Mike Figliuolo at thoughtLEADERS, LLC
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These results were originally a SmartPulse poll in SmartBrief on Leadership which tracks feedback from more than 210,000 business leaders. Get smarter on leadership and sign up for the SmartBrief on Leadership e-newsletter.
I’m not sure people have consciously categorized their negotiating tools, but as a parent of two and a PTA participant, I know that most humans have plenty of negotiating techniques in their toolbox!
The trick may be more in consciously choosing the appropriate one for the moment. To do that, you need to consciously name and categorize them. I doubt even 20% have done that fully or well!
I will add a comment related to your 6 techniques discussion (see link above). Mike and Daniel are both right, but arguing different points.
A master can use inferior tools and create a solid product, but a novice can ruin superior tools as well as fail to create any product. Why? Because HAVING the tools is one thing, but what really helps is KNOWING the tools applications and limits. A master will not try to do fine, delicate work with a blunt tool.
It’s important to learn techniques (and by that I mean name them and categorize them). It’s also important to learn how and when to use them. And for that, listening to others negotiate, and then trying them out for yourself and failing will teach you when they work or not.
We all use negotiating techniques, but few are aware of what they are doing and consciously choosing the best tool for the situation.