The Art of Negotiation: Common Mistakes and Helpful Tips

Negotiating is a useful skill to have in many situations, from purchasing a car to negotiating a pay raise. Below is a list of the common negotiation mistakes, along with some helpful tips for negotiating successfully.

Common Negotiation Mistakes:

1. Poor planning and preparation
2. Ignoring potential conflict
3. Arguing instead of trying to influence
4. Losing one's temper
5. Showing impatience
6. Using intimidating behavior
7. Misunderstanding/not understanding nonverbal messages

Tips for Negotiating:

1. Make sure that you understand the needs and goals of both parties going into the negotiations.
2. Establish dominance by being friendly, dressing for success, and, if possible, choosing the place to negotiate. Helpful hint: if the other party remains standing, you remain standing too.
3. Always have the other party first establish the floor and/or the ceiling.
4. Adding on to the above point, also always negotiate outside the bracket (the minimum and maximum).
5. Get information—remember, information is power.
6. Don't be afraid to use silence as a tactic!
7. Try to answer a question with a question. For example, a salesperson asks: "How much are you willing to pay for this item?" You respond: "How much do you need for this item?"
8. Be willing to walk away.

For more tips and techniques like these, join our excellent instructor, Professor Robert J. Ash, for the Art of Negotiation, and be sure to take advantage of the first three FREE video tutorials!

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Easy-to-Use Methods for Problem Solving

Ever have a problem that you just could not figure out how to solve? Maybe it was work related—you and a coworker just couldn't seem to get along—or maybe the problem had to do with your personal life. Well now you can get some great insight and tips on how to resolve your problems, and reduce a little stress along the way.

Start by learning all about the different sources of conflict (I'm sure you can think of a few!). We offer three FREE tutorials to get you off and running toward solving those difficult problems that always seem to crop up in our daily lives.

Click on the picture for some great tips on problem solving.

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Tips for Building Successful Teams

Here are some great tips for working smoothly in teams (and getting past that pesky Storming phase!):

• Assign roles and tasks to make sure each team member has something to do and that everyone participates in achieving the overall goal.
• Generate a plan: Where are you today? Where do you want to be tomorrow? How are you going to get there?
• Keep the team small: Small teams have better communication, and it's easier to make sure everyone stays on task.
• Know the team norms: Teams will establish acceptable and unacceptable behavior. It's important for every team member to be aware of these guides and know the consequences for unacceptable behavior.
• Emphasize common characteristics and interests to foster team unity.
• Praise and compliment your team members for jobs well done.
• And remember, make sure to have FUN!

Get more tips on how to build successful teams here at KnowledgeCity.com, plus enjoy three FREE video tutorials on The Art of Team Building!

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Soft Skills Training: 3 Tips to Improve Soft Skills

Like anything else, soft skills can be learned. The importance of soft skills training cannot be stressed enough. The interpersonal skills you gain throughout life will not only equip you to excel in your professional life, but also in your personal life. Here are three simple ways to improve your soft skills:

Take communication skills courses—Soft skills training courses are mixing technology with areas such as effective written/verbal communication, teamwork, cultural understanding, and psychology. For example, there are speech classes, writing classes to boost your communication skills. Look for conflict resolution or “leadership skill” courses either online or at your local community college.

[Learn more about in-demand interpersonal skills]

Seek mentors—Mentors is another form of teamwork training. Approach potential mentors with the specific skills set you wish to learn from in a friendly, professional way. Ask them which effective soft skills got them ahead in their careers. Compliment that person with a specific example in which you've seen him or her practice that skill.

Volunteer—Brush up on many essential skills through volunteering (i.e. teamwork, decision-making strategies, management, communication skills, reporting, writing, public speaking etc.) Not only are you communication skills training, but a high profile volunteer work on your resume provides you with an opportunity to explain the knowledge and skills acquired to your potential employer.

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