Achieving a Win-Win Negotiation

Achieving a Win-Win Negotiation

There are five possible outcomes when involving in negotiation: lose-lose, in which neither party achieves their goals; lose-win or win-lose, one party achieves their goals and the others don’t; no outcome, in which no wins or loses for both parties; and the last one is win-win, in which both parties win and gets what they want. The best outcome for any negotiation is win-win, when both parties leave the table with a mutually beneficial agreement and feeling that they have won, in some way, after the event.

The language and idea of win-win negotiation comes from mathematical gaming theory. A win-win outcome is called a "non zero sum" game, where all parties involved finish the game positively. When negotiating, there are different styles depending on circumstances. Using tricks and manipulation during a negotiation can undermine trust and damage teamwork. Thus, honesty and openness are always the best policies.

Destroying the other party is not the process of negotiation. Rather, negotiation is a process by which you reach a certain result. Good negotiation occurs when all parties are truthful, and they connect and interact successfully with each other. People can win while helping the other person get what they want, not boosting their ego in the process. Good negotiation is not confrontational, and you really can negotiate win-win outcomes.

Good negotiators is one who know their counterparts’ wants and needs in order to meet both parties’ expectations. For being a good negotiator, one must have a preparation before negotiating so that all the issues and alternatives will be evaluated a head of time and avoiding giving up too soon. Here are essential points need to be prepared thoroughly for the negotiation:

1. Set clear expectations and goals: what both parties want to get out of the negotiation for their own interests. What are the Least Acceptable Settlement and Acceptable Settlement?

2. Trades: what do you each...