How do you stay confident when negotiating with difficult people?

When negotiating with tough folks, three key confidence boosters are: 1- Prepare Well: Know your stuff, from facts to goals, setting a firm negotiation base. 2- Emotional Smarts: Stay cool, read the room, and handle emotions wisely. 3- Assertive Talk: Speak up clearly about what you need, listen well, and keep things positive.

Knowing your worth is key before diving into any negotiation. It's like having a solid foundation to build upon. First things first, get clear on what you want. What are your goals? What are your non-negotiables? Knowing your objectives sets the stage for a successful negotiation. Next up, what can you bring to the table? What value do you offer? Understanding your strengths and what you can contribute adds weight to your position. And let's not forget about your boundaries. What are you willing to accept? Having a clear idea of your bottom line helps you stand firm and avoid settling for less than you deserve.

You have value. Your offer has value. You have to believe this or your negotiation will fail. The other party will see through your attempt to lie about your value.

When negotiating with difficult individuals, preparation is key. Ensure you remain calm and have a clear understanding of your position before going into the negotiation. It's crucial to establish and maintain your boundaries. Regardless of the outcome, remember that your value is never up for negotiation.

It can be hard negotiating with negative people. However, know that you may have categorized them as difficult without actually allowing yourself to get curious, learn more about them and build the beginnings of a collaborative relationship. I like the acronym API...Assume Positive Intent. With this approach, you may learn that it's not that they are negative, but that they just have a different perspective and goal for the negotiation.

Get centred in your body before potentially triggering interactions. You can use a technique like EFT Tapping to soothe your nervous system. During stressful interactions stay grounded and focus on your breathing to keep your stress response at bay. However, there is never an excuse for abusive threatening or rude behaviour. Be aware of your boundaries and if needed step away.

Before the negotiation, take a few minutes to do some deep breathing or a body scan meditation. This primes your mind and body to stay grounded even under pressure. Emotional triggers put our brains in fight-or-flight mode, hindering clear thinking and communication. Mindfulness regulates the nervous system, allowing you to respond, not react.

Staying confident when negotiating with difficult people could involve acknowledging their perspective and finding common ground. Everyone wants to feel respected and seen. Start by identifying areas of agreement, no matter how small. Consider the possibility that the other person is at least 5% right, and focus on that aspect. This approach not only validates their viewpoint but also sets a collaborative tone for the conversation. By emphasizing shared interests and building on what you agree upon, you can maintain confidence and steer the negotiation towards a more productive and less confrontational outcome.

Using neutral and polite language is helpful to not escalate any conflict. Being grounded in who you are, and using body language that mirrors that is key. Remember to take deep breaths, and even just taking a deep breath before responding can make a huge difference. It's also helpful to call out the weak or difficult point immediately that you know the other party will call out. You can share "I know XYZ isn't ideal, so here's what we're going to do about it." This will help the other party drop their defenses, and showcase that you have their interest in mind.

Try to understand what they value. Oftentimes, people cling to a position because of a hidden fear. Maybe they claim that they don't agree with your proposed change because they've tried it before when, in actuality, it makes them uncomfortable. If you understand their true concern, you can find a solution that addresses that issue and still solves the problem. Notice their energy and say, "That seems really important to you. Would you help me understand?" Or, "I can see this is frustrating you. Can you tell me more?" This shows empathy and concern for their position. It also allows you to update your position to better reflect their concerns.

You learn so much when you listen, and this is especially true in negotiating with difficult people. By actively listening, you gain valuable insights into their concerns and motivations, which can help find common ground and reach mutually beneficial agreements.

Deep listening can really help unlock a difficult negotiation by trying to see the situation from the other person’s perspective. Empathy can be powerful when communicating from opposite sides of the table as it were. Assuming that the other person has a positive intention for their action even if you can’t see it can help you reassess the situation and ultimately resolve any conflict or tension in the negotiation.

Ever wonder how top negotiators stay unshakably confident? Confidence in negotiations comes from not just talking but actively listening. When faced with difficult people, the power move is to ask questions. Why? It shifts the dynamic. Instead of reacting, you're engaging. By asking pointed, thoughtful questions, you make them unpack their stance. This not only gives you insight into their motivations and pressure points but also places you in a position of control—you guide the conversation. It's about understanding, then being understood. Try this in your next tough negotiation and watch the table turn.

When negotiating with a difficult person it is really easy to find yourself in judgment of them. This is an unnecessary distraction. Separate the person from the problem and focus on solution seeking questions and conversation. Go into negotiations knowing your position and where you can flex.

During negotiations, the parties can have diverse behaviours and reactions. One should focus on the problem and not the persons as the behaviour of the latter's might be driven by different motivation. One should participate attention to the conversation, facts and information that's being discussed so that the negotiation results in a win win situation for all the parties. This approach also helps to maintain a stable and firm attitude and avoid emotional decisions. Hence focusing on the problem and not person is a good strategy to win a negotiation.

Making sure to separate the problem from the person is huge. A helpful tool to use is to imagine yourself sitting on the same side of the table as the other person, rather than across from one another. That way, you're focusing on the problem in front of you, rather than the person.

When you change your thinking to focus on solving the problem, not blaming others, things become easier to handle. Instead of pointing fingers, concentrate on finding solutions. This way, you can work together better, solve issues smoothly, and strengthen relationships. It's about teamwork and problem-solving, not placing blame.

Ever find yourself wondering why some negotiations feel like an uphill battle? Navigating negotiations with challenging individuals can truly test your confidence. The secret? Focus on the problem, not the person. By detaching the individual's personality from the issue at hand, you shift your energy towards solution-building rather than conflict. This approach not only preserves your mental peace but also positions you as a problem solver, not just a participant in the negotiation. Remember, the goal is to reach a resolution, not to win a debate. Keep your eye on the prize, and let your confidence be your guide.

When negotiating with difficult people, what get's in the way is your own self-doubt. How you talk to yourself in that moment makes a HUGE difference. Here are a few tips: Don't fear judgement: If someone disagrees, tell yourself they are not judging you, only disagreeing. Stay focused on clear, factual arguments. Notice your triggers: Do certain tonalities or personalities make you self-conscious? Knowing what triggers your self-doubt is important Name and Tame the self-doubt: When that critical voice says"You're going to sound so dumb!", consciously re-frame it "I know what I am talking about, I spent hours preparing". Because confidence isn't about always being right; it's about knowing how to calmly respond with clarity of mind.

Difficult people can be intimidating, and they often try to win arguments through intimidation. Don't let them discourage you or sway your perspective. Stand firm and assert your position calmly and confidently. Remember that staying composed and sticking to your principles is key to not letting them overpower you.

Think of negotiations as part of your learning journey. Even dealing with difficult people isn't so scary when you remember that this one negotiation probably won't change your entire life. Stay calm, focused, and well-prepared. Take care of your emotions before you start. With a growth mindset, view this as a chance to gain insights and grow. It's just one situation that will help you become better at negotiating in the future - I feel this is true for lots of situations!