Remain Flexible

By remaining flexible and open during the entire negotiation process, you allow for potential options that may have yet to be initially considered. Saying "no" each time an idea is presented is not how to remain flexible. Even though the presented option may not work for one side, that option could be the start of an option that, once finalized, works for both sides. By remaining flexible, you allow a basic idea to grow into a positive win-win resolution for both sides. When one or both parties cannot remain flexible, the negotiation process will stall or may not be resolved. This chapter gives a good overview of the entire negotiation process. This can help you understand when to decide to enter a negotiation or not.

Learning Objectives

After reading this chapter, you should be able to do the following:

  1. Understand the different types of conflict.
  2. Understand the causes of conflict.
  3. Understand the consequences of conflict.
  4. Understand how to manage conflict effectively.
  5. Understand the stages of the negotiation process.
  6. Understand how to avoid common negotiation mistakes.
  7. Engage in conflict management and negotiation ethically.
  8. Understand cross-cultural differences in conflict and negotiation.

Source: University of Minnesota Libraries, https://open.lib.umn.edu/organizationalbehavior/part/chapter-10-conflict-and-negotiations/
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