A few days after testing our Conflict Guide, a client wrote to me: “I like how you break conflict down to real choices – closure, clarity, or keeping the relationship intact, etc. It’s simple but surprisingly honest. What inspired that angle?” I told her that behind all my work lies a strong belief in humanity. […]
Tag Archives: mediation
Understanding your counterpart’s style is paramount in any negotiation. Many perceived “tough” businesspeople share a recognizable style: they rely on highly competitive tactics and emotional rhetoric. They use anger and confrontation to dominate discussions and control narratives. For them, every deal must have a clear winner and a loser. A style that reinforces their image […]
Why good negotiations don’t just happen by themselves but are the result of skills that can be trained and developed. Key skills for strong negotiation performance Many believe that good negotiations simply happen. But both experience and research show something different: it is about awareness and skills. Almost 20 years of data from The Negotiation […]
When decisions must be made under pressure and parties have differing interests, it’s often not the substance that determines the outcome—but how we structure the process. Whether it’s a sensitive negotiation in the workplace, a mediation between two parties, or the election of a new pope in the Vatican, experience shows that structure, safety, and […]
How can Norwegian businesses succeed in markets like India – when conflicts arise and the path through the courts is long and uncertain? In this article, I argue why Norway must sign the Singapore Convention on Mediation, as India did in 2019, and how this can give exporters and importers a real strategic advantage in […]
Last week I, Roar Wægger, had the chance to work with some incredible people – through negotiation training, advisory sessions, and as a judge in several international negotiation and mediation competitions. Across these different settings, countries, and cultures, a few commonalities kept showing up. Not the strategies nor tactics. Not the legal details. But people. […]
In today’s business world, organizations constantly engage in complex negotiations—whether with suppliers, clients, or internal stakeholders. To navigate these intricate discussions successfully, companies must cultivate a strong internal culture of negotiation awareness and skill development. Implementing structured negotiation training and strategies, based on our “The Power of Nice” (TPON) framework, can enhance collaboration, optimize outcomes, […]
The Boardroom Standoff: A Story Every Leader Knows It’s late afternoon in a high-rise office overlooking the city skyline. A seasoned CEO of a manufacturing firm sits across from an executive representing a major supplier. They are negotiating a high-stakes contract—millions of dollars and hundreds of jobs are on the line. The CEO pushes back […]
We are delighted to announce that Wægger Negotiation Institute (WNI) has been named the ‘Negotiation & Conflict Management Training Provider of the Year 2024’ by Corporate Vision. This recognition, which we are receiving for the second year in a row, means a lot to us – not because of the award itself, but because it […]
Human behavior isn’t as rational as we like to think – it’s often quite predictably irrational. By understanding how our brain and emotions work, mediators can handle conflicts far more effectively. Why is neuroscience relevant to mediation? When parties come to a mediator, they are often in crisis and have tried, but failed, to resolve […]









