Improving your negotiation skills can be a great way to improve yourself. It can be surprising how many times a day a person negotiates in some way. You might be looking to talking to reputable mortgage companies for a better interest rate one minute and then trying to convince your child to do extra chores. It would be easier to get what you want from these if you know how to negotiate better. Here’s what you can do to improve yourself in that department.
Learn How to Prepare
An important part of negotiating is knowing what you are talking about and being able to bring up various talking points. While this is not necessary for all negotiations, you’ll want to do some preparation beforehand to make this easier. For example, when you go to a car dealership looking for a new automobile to buy, it is better to look up the current best prices on the market and what car models are there. This ensures that the car dealer won’t saddle you with higher prices or a bad car. You can also use the info to negotiate for a lower price.
Learn to Say No
One of the unfortunate habits that people have is that they dislike conflict. They want to resolve an issue as easily as possible so they agree with anything that the other party says. That is not the smartest move you can make in negotiation but it can be difficult to fight that impulse. You’ll need to train yourself to say “no” as much as possible. This ensures that you have a fighting chance. Start with the little things like people asking to do extra work or something similar that you are not obligated to do. Saying “no” gives you power in a negotiation so you should start practicing.
Recognize What You Bring To The Table
Another major problem that many people have is that they undervalue themselves. This can be a bad thing in a negotiation when the other side has something you want. Not knowing your true value can result in you being cheated of what you are due. For example, when you’re applying for a job, you get an offer at a low salary. Many people would jump at that offer. But if you know your true value, you would know to back off and start negotiating. While there is a chance that they may take away the offer, you might be able to snag a better salary. Evaluate yourself and what you have to offer so that you can get a good deal.
Observe Their Body Language
An important skill that you need to develop when you are negotiating is knowing the body language of other people. Knowing when they are receptive to your approach or not can allow you to adapt when necessary. The problem is that learning people’s body language can be difficult. You’ll need to practice and get some instruction on what to look out for. Some of these are simple enough to learn but learning how to observe people in the middle of a conversation can be difficult.
