Thoughts and Insights by Michael Gregory

This is How Negative Emotions Impact Negotiations

When we are angry, we flood our body with various chemicals and hormones. That can be very negative in a business setting. This article addresses how to address anger or sadness in a negotiation.

This is how to make a deal in business

These are the key points to making a deal in business. After reading a report on Dealmaking from the Harvard Law School Program on Negotiation and doing some additional research, I wanted to share these insights with you and at the end provide you with access to the free 28-page report.

This is one way to manage conflict at work

Often when two parties are in a conflict with one another, one party feels more aggrieved than another. At other times the conflict is symmetric and both parties feel equal coming into a negotiation. This commentary addresses how to evaluate the situation when the situation is asymmetric and what can be done when one party feels very aggrieved and the other does not share in this perception.

This is how to listen better with difficult people

You know how it is. You have been to training and you know that you are supposed to do. You are supposed to listen. You are supposed to be empathetic and develop a relationship. That is great in theory, but what about with a difficult person. 

This is How to Work with a Difficult Hard Bargainer

What is a difficult hard bargainer and how can you possibly work with such a person? We all run into folks like this at times. This can cause frustration and consternation. Do we take the time to explore what is behind this negative approach? Should we? How would we do that if we did? How can we work with them?

Preparing for a Negotiation with Difficult People

We all negotiate with others. Sometimes the other party can be very difficult to work with. Our best option may to avoid that negotiation and go elsewhere, but sometimes that is not an option. This article addresses this issue.

Want to know how to turn a crises with another party into a collaboration?

This article addresses how to turn a crises into a collaboration. We can learn from hostage negotiators and their success rate is phenomenal. So what can you do to help yourself when you feel like you are in a crises with someone else?

Ten Steps for an Interest-Based Resolution

From the book Peaceful Resolutions a summary of one of the steps to resolving conflict is a free six sided pocket guide (that fits in your pocket).  One of the six sides of the tri-fold pocket guide offers Ten Steps for an Interest-Based Resolution.  This 10 step summary process is elaborated on in this text. 

What are the right kind of questions to ask in a negotiation?

In a negotiation each party enters into the negotiation with a position and series of interests. How we explore those interests goes a long way towards reaching a mutually acceptable alternative with the other party. Asking key questions appropriately makes a real difference in the outcome.