7 Tips For Successful Workplace Negotiation From Our Human Resources Consulting Team

When it comes to workplace negotiation, our human resources consulting team has seen it all. We've seen employees who are able to get what they want through negotiation, and we've also seen employees who end up feeling frustrated and defeated.

The key to successful workplace negotiation is understanding both your goals and the goals of the other party. Once you know what you both want to achieve, you can start to develop a strategy for how to best negotiate for a fair outcome.

During the negotiation process, it's important to be respectful and professional. This means keeping a calm demeanour and avoiding any personal attacks. It's also important to be willing to compromise, what to compromise on and when to compromise. If both parties are able to find a middle ground, the negotiation is more likely to be successful.

Workplace negotiation can be a difficult process, but with the right approach, it can be a successful way to get what you want.

So what's the difference between these two groups of employees? How can you ensure that you're in the former group rather than the latter?

Here are 7 tips for successful workplace negotiation from our human resources consulting team:

1. Communicate clearly about what you want.

Before you start any negotiation, it's important to take some time to think about what you really want. What is your ideal outcome? What are you willing to compromise on? Having a clear understanding of your goals will help you stay focused during the negotiation process.

A major reason of conflict in the workplace is due to miscommunication. More often than not, humans speak from their own perspective, hence the messaging that comes across may be processed and interpreted differently when it reaches the intended person.

To avoid miscommunications, our human resources consulting team always stresses the importance of repetition and paraphrasing.

To make sure colleagues understand what you are saying, it is advisable to repeat what you want two to three times. This does not mean that you have to repeat word by word about what you want, but rather, you can paraphrase your desires differently within a short span of time. This will significantly reduce the possibility of misinterpretation from your colleagues.

Especially if you are somebody's boss, you can also ask your colleague to paraphrase or summarize what you have asked. This may seem awkward at first but based on our experience, your co-workers will often comply if you politely explain the reason behind such as request. It is not worth having an argument later on due to miscommunication simply because you wanted to avoid awkward encounters.

2. Consider your counterpart's needs and objectives.

In any negotiation, it's important to try to see things from your counterpart's perspective. What are their goals and objectives? What do they need to walk away feeling good about the deal? Understanding their needs will help you formulate a proposal that meets both of your needs.

A major thing that colleagues have to negotiate in the workplace is workload. It is many people's dream to negotiate down their own workload, but one cannot succeed unless he/she understands what his/her colleagues' needs and wants are. For example, it is sometimes wise to offer to do more in return for less work in other areas if you understand what struggles your colleagues are facing.

To avoid unnecessary conflicts, always think about what other people may want and need before thinking what your own desires are. If you cannot present proposals or solutions to a problem that "speaks the language" of other colleagues, don't expect to reach many successful negotiations. Thinking from your colleagues' shoes may also help you understand what their limitations are, which can affect your own needs and wants in turn.

Don't let your ego get in your way - putting other people's interests first will often benefit you in the long run, as close workplace relationships are built by teamwork, which in turn allows you better comprehend the desires of your colleagues.

3. Be genuine and authentic while listening carefully.

Point number 3 ties in with point number 2.

Whether you are resolving a workplace conflict or negotiating down your workload, remember that effective negotiating starts with building respect and rapport between parties so they feel good about themselves (and each other). Listen carefully to what your counterpart is saying and be genuine in how you respond. According to Effective Negotiating by Kimbro Stakenas and Theodore Hirst (Dearborn Trade Publishing, 2001), "If we can see our negotiators as both people first and negotiators second, we'll unlock all kinds of doors." The more invested each party is in working together for mutual gain, the more likely a deal will get done.

Show genuine care and concern for your colleagues' well-being and people will respect you more automatically, which allows you to get what you want more easily! Nobody likes to talk to a wall - you need to respond to your colleagues' concerns and problems attentively so that others will help you out.

4. Examine your internal emotion and feelings

Pay attention to any emotions that may arise when you think about the negotiating process. Do you feel tense? Annoyed? Invigorated? These emotions can impact your negotiation strategies and results, so it's important to pay attention to them. If necessary, give yourself time to cool down or warm up before entering negotiations. This will help ensure you remain calm and open-minded throughout the discussion.

People often let their emotions get in the way of productive discussions in the workplace. One of the most common feelings in the workplace is feelings of unfairness, including complaints such as "Why is my workload twice as more as hers?" Showing negative feelings and bluntness to your colleagues may help you get what you want in the short run, but this can lead to the deterioration of your workplace relationships in the long run.

Before channelling negative feelings out loud, remember that your workplace colleagues are not your family or boyfriend/girlfriend. To get people to do what you want, you must use logic to calmly persuade your colleagues even in situations where you think you may be wronged. Before getting into a heated debate or argument with your colleagues, take a step back, and process your emotions fully before calmly laying out your concerns or demands.

5. Start with a fair offer.

One of the best ways to start a negotiation is to make a fair initial offer. This shows that you're willing to negotiate in good faith and it sets the tone for the rest of the negotiation. Try to avoid making low-ball offers, as this will only aggravate your counterpart and make them less likely to negotiate with you in the future.

This is especially true in workplace negotiations, where you are often expected to get along with your colleagues constantly. It is always advisable to under-ask rather than over-ask especially when dealing with colleagues you are not close with.

6. Be prepared to compromise.

No negotiation is ever going to be 100% in your favor, so you need to be prepared to make some concessions. If you're not willing to give up anything, then the other party is likely to walk away from the negotiating table. Remember that a good negotiation is one where both sides feel like they've gained something. That is why before negotiating with your colleagues, think about what you are willing to give up in order to get what you want in both the short run and the long run. Having a clear understanding of your bottom line will help you know when it's time to walk away from certain negotiations in the workplace.

A lot of arguments in the workplace can be averted through compromises from all parties based on our HR consulting team's negotiation experience. Coming up with compromises you are happy with may take a lot of creativity, so when your requests are rejected by your colleagues, refrain yourself from lashing out or being passive aggressive. Take the time to understand why your colleagues are reacting the way they are, so that you can make counteroffers that your colleagues may be happy about. Do not be upset by rejections but rather, rejections are a good way for you to build further bonds with your colleagues by getting to know them better.

7. Be assertive, but not aggressive.

In any negotiation, it's important to maintain a sense of assertiveness. This means that you should be confident in your position and clear about your needs and wants. At the same time, you should avoid being too aggressive, as this can often lead to tension and conflict.

Our HR consulting team normally advises clients to air on the side of caution when making work-related requests, even if you are the boss. Being aggressive often causes others to push back on you even though your requests may be fair. In particular, those in positions of power within organizations are vulnerable to over-aggression. Remember, an organization can only be run successfully if everybody is working as a team, so even though assertiveness is required to communicate clearly, aggression will only cause internal division. The goal of all negotiations is to get what you wish, so it is vital that you spend enough time focusing on the right tactics to influence others ethically in the workplace.