Just A Thought:

Everything will be all right in the end. If it is not all right, it is not yet the end.

Paulo Coelho

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How to Negotiate Like an Expert

7 Common Mistakes — and How to Avoid Them

Negotiation isn’t just for business deals. It’s part of daily life: asking for resources, resolving conflicts, or even deciding where to go for dinner. Research shows most of us fall into predictable traps. The good news? With awareness and preparation, we can avoid them.

7 Pitfalls of Negotiation

1. Escalating Commitment

   • Mistake: Clinging to a failing plan just because you’ve invested time or ego.
   • Guideline: Treat your first offer as a test, not a commitment. Keep adapting as new facts emerge.

    

2. The Fixed Pie

   • Mistake: Assuming any gain for the other side means a loss for you.
   • Guideline: Look for “win–win” solutions. Ask what the other side values that you don’t.

    

3. Anchoring
   • Mistake: Letting the first number thrown out set the terms of the deal.

   • Guideline: Do your homework. Arrive with your own researched numbers and benchmarks.

      

4. Framing

   • Mistake: Being swayed by how something is presented rather than the facts.
   • Guideline: Pause and ask: “What frame am I seeing this through? Would I decide differently if it were worded another way?”

    

5. Availability Bias

   • Mistake: Relying on vivid stories or personal anecdotes instead of real data.
   • Guideline: Look up statistics. Make decisions based on evidence, not fear or memory.

    

6. Forgetting the Other Side’s Perspective

   • Mistake: Focusing only on your own position.
   • Guideline: Ask questions. What do they know? What do they want? What pressures are they under?

    

7. Overconfidence
   • Mistake: Believing your outcome is the only acceptable one.
   • Guideline: Practise “rational humility.” Get feedback from a trusted, honest outsider before entering the room.

Two Essentials Before Any Negotiation

• Know Your BATNA: Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement — your fallback option if no deal is reached.
• Set a Reservation Price: The lowest offer you’ll accept (or the upper limit you’ll pay). Never go below or above this line.

Takeaway for Parents and Teachers

• Model negotiation skills with children — show them how to ask questions, look for shared gains, and avoid being pressured by the first number they hear.
• In school or family settings — remember negotiation is not about winning every time. It’s about getting to an agreement better than “walking away.”
• For yourself — approach negotiations with humility, preparation, and perspective. Most mistakes come from mental shortcuts, not a lack of ability.