Some Things Are Not Up For Negotiation
0It’s news to no one that negotiation can be a stressful activity, to the point that it’s easy to forget that some things are not up for negotiation.
Here’s a short list of items which in negotiation are not for discussion, especially anyone’s opinions or value judgments.
What’s Not Up For Negotiation
- Your values
- Your principles
- Your ethics
- Your reputation
- Your emotions
- Your age, gender or sexuality
- Anything to do with your credibility, including your background, schooling, experience or history
- Your needs (your position), but not your wants (your interests)
- Not sure of the difference? Click here.
- The facts – as long as your sources are legitimate
- True deadlines
- People no longer employed at your organisation. While a scapegoat can be an interesting strategy, it also suggests to the other party that your organisation won’t take responsibility for its past actions. A better strategy might be to offer an apology for the actions, not the person themselves. Remember too that oftentimes an apology is the most valuable but cheapest thing you can give away.
For anyone managing negotiation, I highly recommend this book: Getting to Yes, by Roger Fisher and William Ury. The link goes to the Amazon Australia website, but you should be re-directed to the proper website for your country.
Any other issues or topics which are not up for negotiation? Please comment below.
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