This is Part 1 of a series of posts on negotiation & mediation
Conflict is something we all know about. In one form or another, it is in the news everyday. Pundits like Rush Limbaugh are famous & successful because today conflict is even an industry. While some have made it a career,others avoid it at all costs. However, sometimes conflict just gets a “bad rap,” which is unfortunate because harnessing & managing it can be a powerful tool & one that is not too difficult if you are willing to think creatively but above all, not just hear [think: simply waiting for your turn to speak] but listen…really listen
Why Bother
Make no mistake, I am not saying it will always be easy & without a doubt, there will be hurdles to overcome so why even bother? It's a strategy that enables you to solve a problem while preserving the relationship. The key to succeeding at this is preparation
4 Key strategies to focus on:
1-How to negotiate without “giving in”
2-Learn how to separate the person from the problem
3-Facing & overcoming inevitable obstacles
4-Finding ways to unleash your creativity
If you focus on what you will have to give up when negotiating, walk away & go home because you've already lost.
Nailing It Is About 2 things:
- Shared compromise or win-win; not I win, you lose. The concept of "win-win" was made famous by Ury & Fischer in their landmark book "Getting To Yes"
- When successful, it's a reconciliation of interests not passions while preserving the relationship
The following posts in this series will dig a little deeper m into the basics of conflict resolution.
