How many times have you heard “Everything Negotiable?” You have probably heard this quite a few times in various contexts. However, have your really taken it to heart? Do you look at every situation as a chance to negotiate?
Many people think negotiation only entails to product purchases, big business deals, or dispute interactions with foreign countries. These are the kinds of negotiations we read about in the papers. What many people forget is there are opportunities to negotiate every day. Each time you want someone to do something for you, or someone wants you to do something for them, a negotiation is in process. Sure, many of these situations are not worth negotiating, we just plod forward and do it. However, if you want to develop your negotiation skills and think like a negotiator, start looking at these situations as opportunities. Not only will you develop greater negotiation skills, you will also find that you get more of what you want. The person who thinks like a negotiator looks at every situation as an opportunity to negotiate and win. Better yet, look at each situation as an opportunity to negotiate and ensure both sides win.
From now on, look for opportunities to negotiation and practice your negotiation skills at every opportunity. Each time you buy something, there is a potential negotiation. Yes, I realize if you go to the gas pump it will most likely be a futile discourse trying to get the station to lower your price per gallon, just as it will be difficult to negotiate the stated price of produce with the checker at the grocery store. However, many places to present opportunities to negotiate. Think like a negotiator and look for them. Remember, practicing your negotiation techniques on small items will enable you to negotiate bigger items in the future.
It is up to you to start thinking of common goods and services that might be negotiated. We all know that buying a car is often a negotiated deal. But what about a TV? How about work on your home or yard? Can you negotiate for services such as typing, web design, graphic arts, or computer programming? Have you ever asked a store to match a competitor’s price? That’s negotiating. Have you ever bartered goods or services with anyone for something? That’s negotiation.
Start thinking like a negotiator and practicing your negotiation skills and you will be amazed at the opportunities that surround you. Keep at it and your negotiation skills will improve, you will be making more win-win deals that you can count, and you will ever increase the size and scope of your negotiations. Not only will these skills pay off for you at home, they can positively impact your work as well. Then you will be using your newfound negotiation attitude to negotiate a higher salary.