Welcome to the Weekly Walkaway

Our mission is simple: to help you master negotiation and gain one of life’s most valuable skills. The truth is we are all negotiating all the time. So it makes sense to get good at it...

Negotiation is not a dirty word.

People often have a negative reaction to the word “negotiation”. Or the idea of deliberating getting better at it. To some, it’s synonymous with trickery or aggression. They think of a manipulative car salesperson. Or an awkward haggle at a street market.

The reality? Negotiation is not some dark art. It’s simply how we seek agreement and communicate. It’s how we get things done.

YOU’RE ALREADY A NEGOTIATOR

Negotiation skills are not just for buyers and sellers. You might not think of your job as a negotiator. But whether you’re an account manager, project lead, HR manager, or are in operations, finance, leadership or legal – you are negotiating.

You’re negotiating contracts, prices, terms, roles, costs, responsibilities, priorities, etc. And then there is the hidden world of negotiation.

IT DOESN’T END AT THE HANDSHAKE

The deal is done. You shake hands. That’s the end of the negotiation, right? Wrong. Most negotiation happens after the initial deal is done, during the operational phase. They’ll be addendums, out-of-scope work, delivery schedules, problem resolution, price and payment term changes, union demands, stakeholder aligning, performance management, and on and on. Negotiation is ongoing, constant, and so very important to business success.

LIFE IS A SERIES OF NEGOTIATIONS

And being a skilled negotiator isn’t just useful at work. From when you wake up to when you fall asleep, you’re negotiating – with your suppliers, your partner, your kids. A builder quotes you for expensive renovation work. You’re buying a new car. You’re renewing your broadband package. You’re buying or selling your home. Or you’re simply negotiating with your kids over screen time. The fact is…

We’re all negotiating all the time. So it makes sense to get good at it.