If I did not know the answer, I would ask you a question about what you just told me. Would you answer that? If I did not know the answer, I would ask you a question that implied that I do know the answer and I am asking you a question. You would give a simple answer and then you would go on to explain that what I said was wrong. That is how a negotiation works.
Now here is a scenario that illustrates the ability of the other party to ignore your questions. If I were in a normal negotiation, and I wanted to ask you a question, I would say something like, “So, why did you tell me that?” or “Are you trying to convince me that we should do X?” Those are good questions, because they prompt you to respond.
In the negotiation I mentioned above, instead of asking you questions, what I did was refer to one of your previous statements. I would do that and then say something like, “So, if I understand what you just said, do you feel that I should do Y?” or “Do you feel that it is better for me to do Z or wait and see what happens?” The purpose of this technique is to get you to look at the whole picture. Once you look at the whole picture, you will be able to make decisions that are based on facts, rather than on feelings.
Here’s a tip for you in negotiations. Instead of responding to your own objections by telling me that you don’t agree, you would respond with, “Well, but can I show you that when confronted with your objection you changed your mind and chose not to do it?” That answer shows that you have made the case for your point of view. When you respond with your own point of view, you are actually showing respect for the other person’s position. If he says something that upsets you, let him hear your viewpoint.
Then, when you are asked the question that triggers your objection, you could simply tell them, “That really makes me uncomfortable and forces me to question our relationship. If you are uncomfortable, that certainly tells me that you care about the topic, and that is very valuable information for me. If you would like to change the subject, that’s fine.” This shows respect, and now you know how to take my advanced topics in negotiation quiz for me and use it to your advantage.
One last tip to remember is to simply answer the questions without giving a full analysis. As I said, there are many topics you might be comfortable with. You need to learn how to determine the relative importance of each topic. So, when you are asked a question, you can say, “Based on the facts I know, this topic is most important. This will help us get through this part of the negotiation much faster.”
This advice will allow you to become a better negotiator and lead your team to victory. Don’t just take my advanced topics in negotiation quiz for me; take the time to think about the information you have learned and apply it to your own negotiations. Only then will you truly see the results you desire. Good Luck! !