Are negotiation skills still important?

“YOUR SUCCESS IN LIFE depends upon your success as a negotiator. Every aspect-business, social, or personal is affected by the need to negotiate. From my experiences and studies, I have concluded that everything in life is being negotiated, under all circumstances, at all times.” Gerard I. Nierenberg, the complete negotiator.

No other book has influenced my negotiation approach and skills more than the complete negotiator, I first read it more than 20 years ago and have come back to it again and again over the years, each time finding more wisdom to add to my negotiation toolbox.

As part of my vision to educate the next generation of negotiators, I have decided to share my favorite 10 big ideas from the book that I will post over the next few weeks.

Big idea #1 – Negotiation is not a game

Big idea #2 – Reaching the right balance

Big idea #3 - When to know that you have reached the limit

Big idea #4 - Why are people still important?

Big idea #5 - Individual vs. Team negotiation

Big idea #6 - Why is a negotiation agenda important?

Big idea #7 - The pitfall of assumptions

Big idea #8 - Let’s invite Abraham Maslow into our negotiations.

Big idea #9 - Creating alternatives

Big idea #10 – The use of questions