Effective Negotiating Tactics Everyone Should Know

I have always believed that one of the most important life skills that every person should have mastered before setting out on their own is the ability to successfully negotiate. Of course, that requires one to have a firm grasp on the most effective negotiating tactics.

For most of us, negotiating skills are usually needed shortly after we leave home to strike out on our own for the very first time. For example, the opportunity to engage in negotiations often comes into play when we get our first job, move into our first apartment, and buy our first car.

With that in mind, here are the essential tips that I always follow to ensure that I get the most from my negotiations:

Don’t Be Afraid To Ask For Better Terms

It really isn’t that hard to ask someone, “Is that the best you can do?” But I know a lot of people who are afraid to ask for better terms on anything. That can be a costly mistake. If you don’t ask you’ll never know. Remember, the worst thing that can happen is the other party will say “no.” I’ve successfully asked for better terms in places you would never suspect. For example, I’ll ask for – and often get – nice discounts for groceries I find that are approaching their expiration dates.

Don’t be Timid

When you negotiate with conviction, you signal strength to the other party. On the other hand, if the person you’re negotiating with senses weakness, they’ll capitalize on your lack of conviction and balk at your half-hearted attempt to get a better deal.

Hold Your Cards Close to Your Vest

When it comes to effective negotiating tactics, it’s important to understand that knowledge is power. That’s why when you ask a car salesman for a price, he’ll usually reply with something like, “How much do you want to spend?” — or even worse, “How big of a monthly payment do you want?” Why? Because it reveals critically important information that gives the salesman a big advantage in the negotiation process. Several years ago, I needed a block wall built in my back yard. I had saved roughly $10,000 for the project, but I never revealed that info to the contractors I contacted. After all, if they knew that, then you can bet every bid would have been $10,000.

Inflate Your Initial Negotiating Position

Asking for more than you actually want is yet another arrow in your quiver of effective negotiating tactics. Doing so serves two key purposes: 1) It gives you negotiating room to come down from your initial conditions; and 2) It lets the other party feel as if they are gaining an edge in the negotiation process. On a related note:

Be Flexible

No, “take it or leave it” is not a smart negotiating tactic. It’s a knucklehead approach that does little more than alienate the other party. If you expect to get something during the negotiation process, you’ve got to be willing to give a little too. This approach fosters goodwill with the other party and usually encourages them to yield a bit on their terms too.

Believe it or not, there are even more effective negotiating tactics that will help you become a better negotiator. I discuss them in Part 2.

Photo Credit: Martin Burns