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 […]
Tag Archives: negotiation
22
Sep
Sep
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 […]
31
Jul
Jul
Legal Education Is Missing the Core Competence Future Lawyers Need More than 40 years ago, Paul L. Tractenberg wrote a provocative article Training Lawyers to Be More Effective Dispute Preventers and Dispute Settlers: Advocating for Non-Adversarial Skills, arguing that legal education was failing its most basic mission: preparing lawyers for what they actually do in […]
05
Jun
Jun
Negotiation exercises aren’t confined to boardrooms or contract discussions. They are daily human skills—and the more you practice, the better you become. Instead of waiting for high-stakes negotiations, use everyday situations to sharpen your questioning and listening abilities. Want to understand how much your negotiation style might be costing you? Read: Most leaders lose millions […]
19
May
May
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 […]
05
May
May
After years of training and advising professionals across sectors and countries, I’ve seen the same negotiation patterns repeat — both strengths and common stumbling points. While each situation is unique, your negotiation skills and preparation habits often determine the outcome more than the numbers themselves. To bring this to life, imagine a real negotiation between […]
03
Apr
Apr
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 […]
24
Mar
Mar
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. […]
26
Feb
Feb
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, […]
12
Feb
Feb
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 […]