The Art Of Negotiating, The Skilled Negotiator Has The Advantage

When we realize that virtually every aspect of our business and personal life requires negotiation, the benefit of being a better, more efficient negotiator is clear.

Negotiating skills are not usually part of our formal education, though we use these skills all day, every day. These skills are at the very core of both our professional and personal lives. It doesn’t matter if we run General Motors or the corner snowball stand or our households, we all have to communicate and convince effectively.

What is negotiation, anyway? Negotiating can be explained as simply as “working side by side with other to achieve some beneficial result.” Luckily, it is a practical skill that can be learned. It is not a genetic trait we’re born with, like blue eyes or black hair. So no matter what our age or our position in life, if we develop a certain attitude about negotiating, pay attention to honing our skills, then our life will run smoother.

Some things to remember when developing a negotiating strategy:

• Act collaboratively, not competitively. It is not “me against you.” When we see the other person as a bargaining partner, we are aware that everyone must come away with a benefit. It is a big mistake to think someone is going to give you something for nothing. So try to determine what it is the other person might want, in exchange for what you want. And then present your case to show them that, if they will help you get what you need, you will help them get what they need. Make “Mutual Benefit” your mantra.

• Personalize the situation; deal as individuals, not as institutions or corporations. You are not talking to “the Tchula bank” but to Charlie Smith, the person sitting in front of you, who represents the bank. Flesh and blood Charlie Smith. Realize that you negotiate on behalf of yourself, representing the company. When you see the other person in this light, you are able to look them in the eye. This eye contact

• Increase your expectations. You usually get what you expect to get. If you don’t think you will get the promotion, you probably won’t. If you don’t think you will land the contract, you probably won’t. There is no way you will put your best effort forward if you think, in the back of your mind, you won’t succeed anyway. So you might as well act as if you expect to get whatever it is you want. You will be pleasantly surprised when you do! You see, when you truly expect to get what it is you are seeking, others see this in you.

• Know what you want. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? But surprisingly, there are many times when we go in to a negotiating session saying, “Let’s see what they offer us.” Why let the other person decide what you will get? Nobody knows your business or your life as you do. Being able to state specific proposals gives you strength.

• Stay focused on the real issues. Decide what you absolutely want to come away with; what extra’s it would be nice to come away with; and what you can do without if you need to give them up to reach an agreement. Why do you need to determine these things in advance? Because in the “heat of battle” you won’t be able to focus on these issues so easily, and you could be very surprised at what you didn’t get or at what you gave away.

• Prepare. Do you homework; thoroughly research the person or company with which you’ll be dealing. Is the company an innovative one or a staid one? Is the person with whom you are negotiating known for being creative or for being more traditional? With all the information available on the Internet today, there is virtually nothing we can’t find out beforehand. Whether we are researching a corporation or a person. Just Google-ing someone is likely to bring up something we didn’t know. And of course, there is the old-fashioned way: just ask. Ask industry colleagues (non-competing ones) or acquaintances. It should not surprise you how much people like to talk about what and who and how much they know!

• Make time your ally. Try to know your counterpart’s deadline without giving away yours. Why? Because if I know your deadline to solve a problem or come to an agreement, I can stall any decision up to the point I know you have to make a decision. Most concessionary behavior and settlement action occur close to someone’s deadline; don’t let it be yours.

These are just a few of the many points necessary to knowing more about the negotiating process. Will practicing negotiation skills take time and effort? Of course. But becoming a more efficient, smarter negotiator will bring you many rewards in both your professional and personal life.

WHERE'S YOUR BUSINESS GOING ON?

Building a brand requires the same four questions necessary when planning a trip:
When do I want to go? What do I want to do? Where do I want to go? How will I get there? It’s always a great time to plan a vacation, and it’s always a great time to build your brand.

Consumers begin forming opinions of your product and organization as soon as you break into the marketplace.
If you’re not controlling your image and message, it’s being controlled by others through their perceptions of you and your product. A successful brand strategy makes sure that a compelling message is delivered correctly to your target market. The time is now to start building your brand.

A business owner who lacks a clear vision can never truly know how his business is performing.
The best brand image and strategy can only be created when the owner clarifies and communicates the vision to the team who will create the brand identity.

A solid brand strategy is like the magnetic North on a compass:
It guides you, your business decisions, and your potential customers so you’re able to find each other. It lays out the best route for the business to take in order to communicate its core message and unique promise of value to the target market.

The business must also take its current reality into consideration.
How are you positioned in the marketplace? Do you know what differentiates you from your competitors? Are you positioned to take the most direct route possible to achieve the success you want?

So, when do you want to go on your branding trip?
The sooner you establish your brand, the better.

What exactly are you looking to do?
Your best bet is to create a brand that will differentiate you from the competition and help you reach the next level of growth.

Where do you want to go?
What this means is how much of your potential do you want to tap in to? Strategic branding can help you achieve the goals that have been set for your company.

Finally, how will you get there?
By partnering with professionals who understand the benefits of branding and marketing.

Open Your Introduction With The Firecracker Moment

The number one requirement, whether you are a business owner or an employee, is to be able to say what you do, and say it with influencing results. Through testing, I have seen, experienced, and received feedback that an elevator speech no longer works. My test results show that elevator speeches are too slow and too boring. People know what’s coming and have mindfully tuned out it out before the first sentence. Elevator speeches don't stop the listener in their moment, which is exactly what you need to do. An introduction that starts with a firecracker impact does stop them in their moment.

Pitching what you do needs energy -- energy in your voice and body language. The same energy you have if you're pitching your screenplay to an agent or getting a large crowd’s attention. Elevator speeches have become over processed and passive. People only notice if you give a poor one and that is because they measured it against their own. A good introduction, without a firecracker beginning, doesn't stop them in their moment.

You want them to remember you and your answer for a long time. Not just 10 minutes, the next day when they call you to pitch you, but next week, next month, when something happens and their pain appear. Better yet, when they are talking to someone else and see the pain-solution results. They see you as the answer. A firecracker stays with people for quite some time. Where were you the last time you saw fireworks? Once triggered, I'm sure you remember the day, the time, and whom you were with quite quickly.

You will want to create a memorable firecracker introduction that you can use everywhere -- in any introduction, any situation, as the key point of every presentation, voice- mail message, e-mail signatures, slogan on a business card or even as a headliner on your website home page.

Let’s learn this process together by beginning with a few examples I created. These examples will also give you hints on how you can open your pitches with a firecracker moment. Pitches that change people’s moments – ignite a firecracker under their assets.

Let’s assume you are at a networking event and someone asks, “What do you do?” You can open in one of several ways depending on the function and what you thought would intrigue people attending this event. The introduction must always lead to getting them to act on only one call to action. If your call to action is to sell space in an upcoming workshop, you don't promote your consulting services. Multiple action calls will dilute your message. Even worse, they confuse your listener.

Consider crafting several, still staying within the single call to action, by changing the wording ever so slightly so that it doesn't sound memorized just in case others are close enough to over hear you. This also works if you are testing to find the best language.

Always make the first sentence a declarative statement: "I perform miracles. Not the religious type, of course, the business type. Entrepreneurs, like [current or past client] and [another current or past client], hire me to make their marketing more attractive and pull in clients. I help them become a human magnet, drawing new businesses to them like bees make honey."

It is important for the very first sentence be short and declarative. Declarative doesn't ask, it asserts. Now stop for a few minutes and play with some ideas of your own. Be bold when playing; write with the energy of a firecracker.

A second method would be to open with a declarative question. Actually there isn't any such thing as a declarative question in grammar, so bare with me as I stretch a declarative statement. A declarative question is when you ask them a question but not for them to answer but with a declarative prowess. "Have you ever seen a speaker so dynamic and engaging that you forget where you are? Someone who teaches with inspiration, hypnotizes their audience, empowers people to act, all the while filling the atmosphere in the room with love. Then you haven't experienced me."

The first two sentences will determine whether they are listening. A firecracker intro guarantees that you will snap them out of their moment. If you find that these openers are too bold, you have my permission to continue to let people be in their own moment and keep trying to get a regular elevator speech to work.