NEGOTIATION SKILLS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

NEGOTIATION SKILLS - Essay Example This brief analysis will work to address three main questions with regards to negotiation. They are as follows: 1) Describing and offering advice regarding the three main points of the â€Å"Getting To Yes† model of negotiation 2) comparison and contrast of distributive/competitive vs integrative/interest based bargaining 3) Discussion of the win-lose/win-win nature of negotiations and the influence that perception and expectations have on both parties involved. As such, this brief analysis will attempt to lay out, as best as possible, a type of rubric that will help an individual to handle negotiations in an informed and thoughtful manner. With respect to the three points of advice that were gleaned from the book Getting to Yes Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In, the authors note that the three most powerful tools towards achieving a successful negation hinge on the following: 1) separating the people from the problem 2) focusing on the interests not the position 3) inve nting options for mutual gain. Oftentimes in situations where disagreements/contentions/negotiations are taking place, it is extraordinarily easy to immediately denote a problem, an idea, or a given point of view to an individual or group of individuals. In this way, the actual problem comes no closer to resolution as groups involved have ascribed uniquely personal attributes to each of the perspectives. As such, the individual hang ups that a person or group of people may have with relation to another individual or group acts as the main impediment towards achieving an environment amenable to successful resolution2. In this way, the problem itself (or obstacles) is minimized as the personalities that espouse the given view are maximized. Such actions make it difficult if not impossible to work towards a resolution. In this way, it is the role of the negotiator to seek, at all costs and at all times, understanding of the issues rather than working to ascribe them to a given group or individual. The second point centers around the fact that the negotiator must place emphasis on seeking to define the interests of the respective group and not the problem. Although this can be understood a multitude of different ways, perhaps the best way to understand it is that the focus should be placed on the positive and not the negative. In such a way, rather than immediately coming to agreement that a central negative exists, the group can focus positive and constructive energies on defining and further developing the respective interests that guide the positions that are at hand. Lastly, how it is framed is oftentimes half the battle. In a situation where a difficult issue seeks resolution, a redistribution of focus in a way that works to maximize mutual gain is oftentimes one of the most efficient ways towards bringing parties together on points of agreement. Although this is a very basic concept, it is one that is lost on many negotiations as individuals involved develop a type of tunnel vision on their desired results with little thought as to small tokens of peace offerings that could coax the other side to relinquish some ground on a given item or set of points. With respect to comparing and contrasting distributive/competitive versus integrative/interest based bargaining, these primarily differ with respect to the item that is being discussed. For instance, as the name implies, distributive bargaining is often