What do you do if your negotiation skills are hindering successful outcomes in Partnerships?

In my experience, recognizing my negotiation shortcomings was key to my growth. A pattern of unsuccessful negotiations made me see that my preparation was lacking, falsely thinking that my understanding of our services was adequate. This often rendered me incapable of addressing specific concerns, particularly in the crucial global eSIM market for EasyWeGo. Upon consulting a mentor, I discovered my approach was too passive, leading to lost opportunities. This insight was a turning point, underscoring the significance of thorough preparation and a balanced negotiation strategy. It taught me the essentiality of fully grasping our offerings and effectively responding to partner inquiries to not just meet, but surpass partnership expectations.

When I noticed my negotiation skills were hindering successful outcomes in partnerships, I literally googled the top books on negotiations and got the audiobooks and played them on my commutes. That audio repetition is second to none to reprogram good habits

Assessing negotiation skills can be done through various methods, including behavioral interviews, case studies, and role-playing exercises. These approaches allow you to gauge your problem-solving abilities, strategic thinking, and emotional intelligence in negotiation scenarios.

Investing time and effort into improving your negotiation skills is valuable regardless of your role and industry. It can also positively impact your personal and professional life. Yet, developing those skills can come with challenges, such as a fear of conflict, lack of confidence, and difficulty establishing rapport with others. Moreover you can follow these steps and build your Intermediate Negotiation Skills 1. Track your Negotiations 2. Learn How to Create Value 3. Develop Emotional Intelligence Value 4. Build Confidence

One thing that I have found helpful is seeking improvement through formal training. Identifying my negotiation weaknesses led me to a seminar on strategic techniques, which was transformative. It provided a structured approach, emphasizing clear objectives and understanding partners' needs, key for aligning EasyWeGo’s value proposition with the needs of our local taxi and shared workspace providers. The seminar’s practical exercises and expert feedback significantly improved my confidence and negotiation skills. This experience underscored the importance of continuous learning, showing that even experienced professionals can greatly enhance their abilities with focused training.

I actively sought out training opportunities to enhance my abilities which to me are real life scenarios. I would try to get agreement in friend discussions, with a doorman, you name it. This makes you more agreeable and strengthens your empathy/win-win muscle.

I would ask myself if I am really listening. Being a good listener is key to building a strong partnership. Listen very well so you have the opportunity to be honest with your response and truly add value to the partnership.

One time at work, during a tough negotiation with a shared workspace industry partner, I learned the power of empathy. Initially, discussions were tense, with both sides stuck in their views. However, when we shifted our focus from our needs to understanding theirs, the dynamic changed. We found their main concern was ensuring service reliability and quality, not just the financials. This realization helped us customize our proposal to meet their needs, leading to a beneficial partnership for both. This experience taught me that empathy involves not just listening but deeply understanding and addressing partners' underlying concerns and needs.

The most underrated human skill there is. Literally believe if we teach this at elementary and high school level, we will have a more peaceful world. The best sales people aren't trying to sell you a pen like Jordan Belfort. They are trying to help you with your pain point

In partnership management, leveraging empathy transforms negotiations. In a challenging negotiation, shifting focus towards understanding the partner's concerns and goals proved pivotal. By actively listening and engaging with their perspective through open-ended questions, hidden issues and priorities surfaced. This empathetic approach built trust and led to creative, mutually beneficial solutions. It showcased empathy as not only a means to comprehend the other side but also a strategic tool for achieving meaningful outcomes for all parties involved.

Clear communication has been pivotal in navigating negotiations for EasyWeGo. Early on, I learned that ambiguity or complexity in discussing our services could lead to misunderstandings, especially with international partners unfamiliar with the nuances of global eSIM technology. By simplifying our language and being explicit about our expectations, capabilities, and limitations, we fostered a more transparent and trusting negotiation environment. For instance, clearly outlining the technical requirements and support we provide for integrating our eSIM service helped alleviate partners' concerns about implementation and operational challenges, paving the way for smoother collaborations.

How fast. can you communicate to a mass. I can't even tell you which audiobook brought that to me but it stuck. Keep it simple and in context to what the situation at hand is versus trying to sound smart

Flexibility is key in the art of negotiation. This does not mean forgetting your objectives but being ready to develop a different strategy to achieve the objectives themselves, or understanding that it could be advantageous to modify even slightly your "fixed points" to achieve great mutual advantages in the negotiation, given that, obviously, this work of dialogue and persuasion on flexibility must also be done on one's counterpart. Don't forget the deepening of human relationships as a fundamental part of success in the ‘flexibility’ theme related to negotiation

Flexibility was key in a significant negotiation with a large taxi service provider. Initially, our discussions were at a standstill due to differing views on pricing and integration timelines. By stepping back and reassessing our objectives, we realized that securing this partnership was crucial for our expansion strategy, even if it meant revising our initial terms. This willingness to adapt led to creative solutions that satisfied both parties, such as a phased integration plan that allowed for earlier revenue generation with less upfront commitment. This experience taught me that rigidity can be a barrier to opportunity, and flexibility can unlock mutually beneficial outcomes.

Stay focused on the outcome never on the how. Being willing to benefit 2nd has allowed me to get so far ahead in relationships. Forget trying to "win" figure out value and just don't allow yourself to be forgotten and it will work it self out honestly.

Regular reflection has been instrumental in my development as a negotiator. After each negotiation, I take time to debrief with my team, focusing on what we did well and areas for improvement. For example, a reflection session helped us realize that we were overly focused on closing deals quickly, at times overlooking strategic partnership opportunities that could have offered greater long-term value. This insight led us to adjust our approach, placing more emphasis on strategic alignment and long-term potential rather than immediate gains. Such reflections have not only improved our negotiation outcomes but have also fostered a culture of continuous learning and improvement within our team.

Personal reflection is a critical part to understand yourself, your performance and the progress of the projects you are involving.

Negotiation in a partnerships only really depends on out outcome: mutual value. You don't need to 'win' a negotiation when it comes to partnership; making sure that both parties get something out of it is all you need to achieve. If you enter with that attitude, then the likelihood of a 'failed' negotiation will drop substantially.

An overlooked aspect of successful negotiations is the importance of internal alignment within your own team before entering discussions with potential partners. Early in EasyWeGo’s journey, we faced challenges due to differing internal views on partnership priorities. This misalignment sometimes led to mixed messages being communicated during negotiations, undermining our position. We addressed this by establishing a clear internal consensus on our negotiation goals and strategies before engaging with potential partners. This unity ensured that we presented a cohesive front, significantly strengthening our negotiation stance. Remember, successful negotiations start with a well-aligned team, united in purpose and approach.

Cultural Understanding: Invest in understanding the cultural nuances of your partners. Cultural differences can significantly impact negotiation dynamics. Adapt your approach to accommodate diverse cultural expectations, communication styles, and decision-making processes. AND Relationship Building: Prioritize relationship building with your partners beyond the negotiation table. Invest time in fostering trust, rapport, and mutual respect through regular communication, networking events, and joint initiatives. Strong relationships lay the groundwork for more collaborative and constructive negotiations.