One fundamental skill to have in the world of business and other environments is certainly negotiation. In our global and intercultural world, considerable adaptation skills, diplomacy, conversational skills, and a good dose of cold blood are essential.
When we interact with people from another country, it is important to know how to behave with respect to their culture and to be able to discern and understand who is in front of us. That is why today we will offer some tips on how to negotiate in English along with some phrases that you may find useful.
Have a Positive Attitude
As you well know, communication is not only composed of words but also of gestures and attitude, which are equally important. Smile and show yourself willing to listen to the other party. Use an introduction that shows that you value their opinion.
Our goal today is to find a solution that suits both parties.
I am sure that today will end in a good deal for both of us.
Listen and Ask Questions
Even before making your suggestion, you can ask some specific questions to understand the point of view of the people you are negotiating with so that you can present a solution that works for both parties. Once you have submitted your proposal, you will always have time to review it in light of any additional information acquired.
What are we hoping to achieve today?
Could you be more specific?
Do you have a suggestion?
What are you proposing?
How much are you willing to compromise?
Make a Proposal
Once the point of view of the other party has been established, it is time to present your proposal. Strive to find a balance between what your company wants to achieve and the requests of those you are negotiating with.
From where we stand, an acceptable price would be…
Our absolute bottom line is…
We’d like to make a proposal that will hopefully benefit both sides.
How about if we …?
Reject a Proposal
Over the course of a negotiation, you may not like what the other party offers or it may seem like your conditions are not being respected. In this case, you should be clear while maintaining as friendly and diplomatic a tone as possible.
I’m afraid… it is totally out of the question.
I understand your point, but…
I am afraid that we have some reservations on that point…
I can see what you are saying, but…
I think that we could reach a better agreement.
Offer a Compromise
In any negotiation worthy of respect, one must be willing to compromise. That is, it may be necessary to make concessions with your counterpart, always keeping the objective in mind.
We are ready to accept your offer, on one condition…
If you would agree to …, we could reciprocate with/by …
On the condition that you …, we could be persuaded to consider…
Accept an Offer
When the other party presents an offer that you like, all you have to do is express your satisfaction. I think that’s fair enough. I couldn’t agree more. I’m happy with this deal.
Conclude the Negotiation
To conclude a negotiation, a document is usually prepared that contains the most important points of the discussion, the rounds of negotiation, and any compromises made.
Let’s look at the points we have agreed on…
Shall we sum up the main points?
These are some practical suggestions to aid in a negotiation in English. The secret to achieving successful agreements, however, lies in a deep knowledge of the language.
For the original article visit ABA English.