5 Key Negotiation Skills to Practice at Work

Negotiation skills are critical elements of professional life. For example, you may need to ask for a salary increase or get a promotion. You need strong negotiation skills to get what you want in all these steps.

Many employees do not take steps toward improving their negotiation steps, but we must say that being good at negotiation is not only necessary for salespersons. Everyone in work life must improve their negotiation skills and persuade their colleagues or bosses to get what they want to have.

Why are Negotiation Skills Important?

People usually hesitate to bargain. The main reason for this hesitation is feeling uncomfortable and the fear of getting rejected. But, a study shows that %44 of new employees win the bargain for their salary. That is why by negotiation skills and confidence you can gain.

Apart from an economic outlook, being brilliant at negotiation skills support you to build confidence, ensure that everyone treats you fairly and get the promotion that you deserve.

What are the 5 Must Negotiation Skills?

A successful negotiator usually has the skills to build strong relationships, gather and analyze the information and then give the most practical decision for both sides. Here, we will be presenting the 5 crucial negotiation skills to be a brilliant negotiator.

1. Good communication

Good communication is the essential skill of strong negotiators. Unless having good communication you can't make your intentions and set a relationship. Having bad articulation can cause confusion and frustration which results in ineffective bargaining.

You must also master nonverbal communication such as body language and gestures to be good at negotiation. If you become better at observing the other sides's behaviors and feelings you can direct your way more effectively.

2. Emotional intelligence

No matter how hard you try to be objective and not involve your emotions in discussions, emotions often come up. But, emotional intelligence gives you the chance to channel your emotions productively.  It also provides you to get a perspective on others' feelings.  That is why you must improve your this skill to understand what others imply rather than what they say explicitly and not involve your emotions unless it is necessary.

3. Adaptability

You must always remember that every situation presents new challenges and opportunities. To get over the challenges and accept the opportunities you must improve your skill of adaptability. You must take an approach that you are flexible and ready to solve difficulties. In this way, you will get better at negotiations and obtain what you want.

4. Decision making

One of the main features of good negotiators is not sweating decisions. They do not take long to make a decision. They can quickly evaluate points and decide. If you experience decision fatigue you will probably lose on thoughts and accept the offer that the other side makes.

5. Active listening

Active listening is something that many people do not do these days. They mainly focus on their words rather than listening to the other side. But, unless listening actively you can not catch the negotiation details and engage with the person. Also, it channels to establish a strong relationship.

Prepare for Negotiation in 4 Steps

If you aim at cultivating your negotiation skills, you must have knowledge about the process. First, you must set the time and the place or have clear information about the place and the meeting time. Then you can apply the following steps.

Here, we will mention the 4 stages to get ready for a negotiation.

1. Prepare for the negotiation

Before attending the negotiation you must clarify the questions in your mind. And you can do it with an effective preparation. For example, you can gather evidence and any supporting document to improve your position and feel more confident during the negotiation. You must also ask yourself some essential questions.

For example;

• What is your purpose to involve in the negotiation?

• Which alternatives can you accept?

• What are your musts?

• What are the other sides' musts and what do they aim at achieving?

2. Discuss effectively

In negotiations, both sides must be given time to express themselves. But, many people are not able to manage their emotions in this phase. If you do not control your emotions during negotiations you can not discuss productively. That is why you mustn't let your emotions show up.

You must also make sure that you understand the other side correctly and both your goal are clear. In case you are not sure to catch what the other side says, you must be open to asking questions to clarify it.

3. Time to negotiate

Now, it is time to negotiate. At this point, you must discuss your perspectives, present alternatives, and agree on a decision that both of you will gain. In this phase, you must use all the information which is mentioned during the discussion. Also, do not miss listening to the other side. In a negotiation where only you talk and express yourself, you can not earn anything.

4. Decide on the agreement

Now, you must decide on the agreement from which you both can benefit. Here, you may need to part in some of your requests. IF you do not want to miss anything, you must be active and focused. You must also be flexible for example if you ask for salary raise, you must be ready to accept longer work hours.