Thoughts and Insights by Michael Gregory

Why Is Collaboration So Hard?

From the time we started school we were taught to work hard, study hard, do our best and we will get ahead. Then when the best technician becomes a manager all of that has to be turned on its head. Why?

Why is Collaboration Important in the Workplace?

We are all oriented to either minimizing pain or maximizing reward. This is what plays out related to conflict resolution versus collaboration. This article addresses the benefits of collaboration in the workplace and how you can create a more collaborative environment. Pioneering companies get it.

What Types and How Much Information Should You Reveal in a Negotiation?

In a negotiation a common question is what types of information can be revealed and if so how much of that information should be revealed in a negotiation? Many factors enter into this question. This article explores three of the most common elements.

Going from Forming, to Storming, to Performing Relationships in Negotiations

When you form a new relationship through a negotiation everyone feels very good, but inevitably something comes up. Someone misses a deadline, quality was not what was anticipated, terms have been interpreted differently between the parties, or something else has happened to negatively impact the relationship. When something like this happens, the relationship can turn stormy. This commentary addresses how to bring the relationship back. There are three keys. These are: be empathetic, potentially change the participants, and consider reframing the issue.

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.

How to Manage Satisfaction with Your Counterpart in a Negotiation

In a negotiation one of the keys to a successful negotiation is managing your counterpart’s expectations.  We would all like to have a win – win negotiation, but part of that is managing your counterpart’s expectations.   In the end what were their expectations of the outcome?  What happens when they shared their results with others?  How was the overall experience with you and the negotiation?  This article will discuss each of these items. Perceptions matter, not just the results.

Here Are Five Tips to Improve Your Negotiation Skills

When we think about training and negotiation this may conjure up negative feelings. I want to promote that this can be fun and at the same time all of us can improve our negotiating skills. Not everyone can be a great negotiator, but we all can improve. Let's take a positive approach to negotiations and see what happens!

What is an Anchor in a Negotiation Why Does It Matter?

In a negotiation when one party throws out a number that is anchoring your price. You could do it or the other party could do it, but once a number has been offered that tends to be an anchor as a starting point for negotiations. What are the implications?

Visualize Holes in Your Negotiations

Do you know the saying “Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance”? The same holds true for negotiations. Some plan to come to a meeting and hear what the other side has to say reacting to the offer of the other side. What happens if you run through “what if” scenarios? Do you know your holes in your approach?