Impeccable Tips To Keep Your Emotions In Check When Negotiating A Big Deal

It can be very hard during a negotiation to keep your feelings under wraps. This is particularly true if the deal is very important to your future, or it has to do with a subject close to your heart. Unfortunately, if you let your emotions show it is likely that the deal will not turn out the way you hoped. It has been suggested that women are more likely to get emotional during negotiations than men, but the truth is that this is irrelevant. It is essential to keep emotions in check in order to succeed in business. Here are several impeccable tips that will help you negotiate without getting all emotional:

Preparation

Prior to any negotiation you need to know what it is you want and how you intend to get there. You also need to know how else you can achieve the same result. A plan B will stop you from getting surprised and flustered which will automatically give rise to a defensive emotion.  Anticipating what the other side would like to achieve and what concessions both sides should be prepared to entertain is a key factor to the success of a business negotiation – without emotion.

Emotional issues

If the meeting has to do with a grievance of whatever the nature, you should expect the whole deal to be an emotional one. The best tactic is to get the offended party to voice the issue first.  Whilst they do so, empathize with them and even apologise if necessary. This will move the negotiation smoothly onto a balanced footing where you can work out the best solution for all parties. The same holds true if you need to deliver bad news. By removing the emotional element at the start of the negotiation, both parties will be ready to look at the deeper issues and resolve them in a calm controlled manner.  

Give them what they want

It is called a negotiation for a reason. It’s almost impossible to name a price and get exactly what you’ve asked when bargaining, so be ready to give them what they want without excessive compromising. The best tactic is to place conditions and find a way to reach an agreement. In essence, you are bartering; everything you give away you get back in a different form. Don’t let your nerves get the best of you, and stick to your guns if they attempt to rip you off or scam you in any way.

Pay close attention to signals

There are many words and phrases which can be said, and really mean that the other party is happy enough to close the deal. Sometime if you’re not looking for these signals you can become bogged down in responding to their questions. Instead, you should be listening and realizing key words like ‘maybe’ or ‘not right now’ combined with a small concession are the same as saying “we are happy to end the meeting here”. It is also possible to pick up on the direction of the negotiation and direct your next questions at their main area of concern.

Never go alone

Two heads are always better than one. Two people mean one is doing the talking and the other is watching for signals. Regular summaries confirm you’re both in agreement although the designated leader should never be challenged or changed during a negotiation. This sign of weakness would be very detrimental to the negotiation.

Don’t be afraid to adjourn

Despite your best efforts, the meeting can still become heated. If this happens, never be afraid to say you need a minute to consider their offer or even to say the meeting will have to be finished another time. It is advisable to summarize the situation prior to adjourning the negotiation and when returning to ensure both parties agree where you stand. Taking a deep breath can be just what you need to stay focused and achieve the right deal.

Keep your emotions in check when negotiating. Don’t allow opponents to intimidate you in any away, and if you have something to say just say; don’t beat around the bush. It’s equally important to maintain a professional attitude all the way through. This will say a lot about you as a person, and then as a business individual.

By Davis Miller and TheGapPartnership.com!