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How to Negotiate Better in 2009

The New Year always provides an opportunity to reflect on the past year and make resolutions for the next. Here are four of my negotiation-related reflections and resolutions that can help us all as we negotiate in 2009. • Set goals and design a strategy to accomplish...

Negotiation Confidence Improves Your Results

“I’m having trouble sleeping at night worrying about this negotiation. While it’s not a huge deal, it’s just really bothering me. What do you recommend?” Here is my advice to get some peace of mind and increase your likelihood of getting...

McCain’s Lessons on Negotiation

I recently flew to Washington, D.C., and Sen. John McCain was on the same flight (in coach, too). Since he has a well-deserved reputation over the years for taking a lead role in successfully negotiating bipartisan compromises on a number of difficult issues, I asked...

Some wise words on dealmaking

I was recently asked by a client to share my favorite negotiation-related quotes, so here they are plus some thoughts on each. “The single most powerful tool for winning a negotiation is the ability to walk away from the table without a deal.“ – Harvey Mackay,...

Get what you want: Execs share 3 secrets of the deal

I recently asked two very successful negotiators for their top three most effective negotiation strategies. The first, Chip Fisher, is a long-time investment banker. The other, who asked for confidentiality, is the President of a large public company in the Midwest....

Late negotiating expert still has much to teach us

Harvard Law Professor Roger Fisher, a giant in the negotiation field who co-wrote the bestseller Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In, passed away last week. As someone who studied under him and who still teaches his core concepts, I believe it’s...

Negotiation Resolutions for the New Year

I recently asked one of the best negotiators I know – a lawyer for over 50 years – for his single most critical pearl of negotiating wisdom. This lawyer, who happens to be my 82-year-old Dad, surprised me by saying it was something he only really focused on relatively...

Spoonful of Sugar Helps Negotiations

The negotiation lasted 20 years, involved a brilliant business visionary against a very difficult personality, and resulted in two excellent movies, including one of the most iconic movies ever. The negotiation was between Walt Disney and P.L. Travers, the author of...

Jazz up your negotiation skills by emulating musicians

What can we learn from jazz musicians about negotiation? Seemingly little. Yet a new book on negotiation by Harvard Business School Professor Michael Wheeler, The Art of Negotiation: How to Improvise Agreement in a Chaotic World, makes a compelling case that jazz and...