Thoughts and Insights by Michael Gregory

Here are six tips to make you an extremely successful negotiator

Here are six tips to make you an extremely successful negotiator. Essentially you need to manage your own emotions, develop trust, focus on interests, apply appreciation, make your message positive, and work towards positive closure. This article focuses on how to carry out each of these elements to make you an extremely successful negotiator. If you take these to heart and not only read the material by make a point to carry out these steps in a negotiation, you well be more successful.

How Do You Negotiate Closure in a Negotiation?

Closure is not an add on at the end.

Want to be an outstanding communicator? Close your mouth.

It sounds to easy, but really the best communicators know when to keep their mouths shut and really listen. Rather than trying to promote themselves, an idea or a position, they focus on truly trying to understand. Sometimes we simply need to be heard. Often times that is the best solution to simply listen to the other party and help them to sort out their solution.

The who, what, when, where, why and how of negotiations

Have you ever thought about the tactics from beginning to end that are involved with a negotiation? This article starts with the very beginning in mind to set you up for success and then explores value added techniques, how to influence the outcome and how to protect yourself during a negotiation.

This is how to improve your day based on 10 tips from neuroscience

Do you want to feel better, be more productive and have more fun?  Researching some recent articles and blogs I wanted to share some great ideas with you. Here is a list of ten items of relatively simple activities that any of us could apply to improve our day. See if any of these may work for you. You don’t have to take on the entire list. See if one or two might work for you.  If any of these work for you simply write them down and test them out as action item(s) to improve your day.

Overcome potential conflicts before the next economic downturn by building collaborative relationships now

The Harvard Business Review (HBR) is suggesting now is the time to plan for the next economic downturn. Leading economic indicators are pointing downward. When an economic downturn takes place and you are in the thick of it, you will need to focus on tactics and day to day operations.  Now is the time to plan, be proactive and collaborate with key stakeholders.

This is how to build trust in a negotiation

Trust is a two-way street. Trust can be built and trust can be earned. This article focuses on how you can both build trust and earn trust in a negotiation.

Negotiating a Covenant Not to Compete as an Employee

A tough negotiation between an employee and his or her employee can seem like a one-way negotiation when the employer says sign this.  After all the employer may approach the employee with a covenant not to compete as a take it or leave it situation. In this scenario the employee may feel that he or she has little choice.  The reality is that may be true on the one hand. On the other hand, there are a host of things to consider and ways to provide constructive feedback.  Some key negotiating topics for consideration are presented here for consideration.  This can be made into a win-win scenario when needs are addressed and each party listens to the concerns of the other.

When Core Values Are Involved – Negotiations May Be More Difficult

When we are in conflict with others we should not focus on beliefs.

Take Advantage of The Collaboration Effect – with Relationships

The Collaboration Effect TM has four elements. These four elements are to build connecting relationships, actively listen, judiciously educate and negotiating closure. These four elements may be intertwined. The key is to address all four areas in roughly the order presented, but making sure to address all four elements for a more successful negotiation. The focus of this commentary is on relationships.