Negotiating is something we do all the time both at work and in personal situations. How confident are you in achieving the outcome you want?
My friend Rebecca pulled off a successful negotiation with a market trader recently.
Admiring some small bay trees priced at £6 each, she noticed a well groomed larger bay tree for sale at £90.
Turning to me she said, within earshot of the sales assistant, “That would be lovely in my garden.”
“I can give you a good deal on that bay tree if you’d like?” the sales assistant interjected.
Quick off the mark Rebecca replied with “It’s not that bay tree I’m looking for a discount on, can you sell me two of your smaller trees for £8?” Without hesitation, the sales assistant agreed.
Do you usually ask for what you want out of a situation? If not, consider this: what’s the worst that can happen?
At work we can face many situations where good negotiation skills are needed. From negotiating a complex contract with a supplier to agreeing work load priorities with a manager. Often we can plan, prepare and consider the alternatives before entering a negotiation, but sometimes it can just happen and being able to respond quickly will help you achieve a successful outcome.
If you would like to improve your negotiation skills take a look at the IET’s newly launched Successful Negotiations course, designed to equip you with practical methods you can use to ensure that the next time that you enter a negotiation you are able to do so with confidence to achieve a win-win situation. Excellent negotiation skills are invaluable to both individuals and organisations. The two day interactive course will give you the opportunity to work with like-minded colleagues to practice your negotiation skills in a safe environment to improve your results.
Take a look at our website for full course details including how to book: http://www.theiet.org/membership/career/courses/professional/skills/negotiation.cfm
Why not share your top tips for successful negotiations by commenting below or joining our discussion?