Page 394 - Effective Communication Soft Skills Strategies For Success by Nitin Bhatnagar, Mamta Bhatnagar

382 | Model Question Papers

you are proposing. Make it obvious that you have considered the other person’s needs and
preferences. When indicating the outcomes you want, don’t just say you want something
because it is to your advantage, e.g., ‘I need a raise because I bought a new car’. Word your
proposals so they seem well justified and are easy to agree with.
Watch out for these common pitfalls in negotiations:
One of the most common mistakes is assuming that one proposal (usually yours) will
solve all the problems. So, forget about finding the best single answer. In most situations, a
good compromise is made up of several changes that benefit you the most (and the other
person a little) and an equal number of changes that benefit the other person. So, don’t
argue over every proposal made; the task is to find the best combination of changes. That is
why brainstorming is so helpful.
What to do if and when the going gets tough:

Keep in mind a saying, ‘The relationship is much more important than the conflict’.
Stress to the other person the importance of a positive future. Look for the opponent’s
real reasons. Ask him/her why he/she is resisting giving in on some issue. Maybe the
other person will start talking about his/her needs (‘interests’) and reveal his/her under-
lying motives. If it is a marital conflict, perhaps the histories of both partners need to
be considered.
If the opponent attacks your position or you personally, listen politely and then try to
divert his/her thinking into the constructive development of a workable option by saying,
‘That’s interesting, what other ideas do you have that would improve this plan?’ Stick with
the win-win philosophy.

Agree upon the best compromise solution available. Try it out:
Consider the pros and cons of each possible solution, based on the criteria you have agreed
to use. Do this cooperatively without either person dominating the decision-making
process. No solution is possible that will completely satisfy both parties but both parties
can be equally satisfied. It takes time to achieve this balance and still have a solution that
both parties see as a definite ‘win,’ not over the opponent but over the problems.
Work out the details of how to carry out the solution. Who does what when? Be specific.
What responsibilities does each person have? Decide how to determine if the agreement is
working well. Try out the solution for a week or so, then re-evaluate it. Set a date to discuss
your progress. Praise each other for making contributions to the solution. Make more
changes as needed.
Any method, which reduces the animosity and stress in a conflict situation, is worth-
while. One danger is not taking the time to negotiate well. Another danger is the outbreak
of animosity, regardless of how well win-win negotiation is attempted.
10. Let us begin with the basics. Good, effective communication through writing pre-
supposes clear thinking. Only if you have thought through an issue to its last details, you
can write effectively. Otherwise, your writing tends to lack coherence, and appears jumpy
and illogical.

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