The Top 4 Phrases Used in Good Negotiating

Unless your job is talking people off of buildings, you are unlikely to be an expert in negotiating. Even if you are semi-decent at it, the confrontation aspect mixed with a little pressure makes it an unpleasant experience.

No matter your role, you likely negotiate daily, at least weekly to be sure. Negotiations are required in the workplace to share things that are scarce. You could be negotiating money, time, a parking space, or who goes on their lunch break first. Regardless, negotiating requires you to be patient, firm, and empathetic, three different actions surrounded by unavoidable tension.

To help, we’ve put together some tips, along with the top four phrases used by successful negotiators. Read on for some helpful tips to become a better negotiator!

The fundamentals of negotiating

• Forget about winning and losing. Focus on your goals, problem-solving and creating a deal that works for you. 
• Know your must-haves before you begin. Prioritise these, so you don’t go down rabbit holes.
• Voice what you want as negotiations are not a mind-reading endeavour.

The top 4 negotiations phrases

“Help me understand why this matters…”

As you inevitably reach an obstacle in a negotiation, this phrase is an invitation to learn more while putting the responsibility on the other person to detail the significance of their request. Of course, asking this question doesn’t mean you have to agree or fold, but it does show that you’re listening.

“I hear what you’re saying, but what do you think about my offer?”

It’s tricky when something you say isn’t acknowledged. Silence in a negotiation can make you start negotiating against yourself. Instead, drop this line, say what you want, smile, and zip it. You want to prompt the other person to talk while being resilient on your terms. Confidence in negotiations is key.

“Wow. That was not what I was expecting to hear.”

If the other side starts strong, this response slows things down forces them to give a “why.” They may not have one; their opener could have been a play; either way, you’ve regained momentum.

“We do not agree on this point. Let’s come back to it later.”

Recognising an impasse and moving it to the side keeps you from agreeing to something just to move on. Move to other issues and build rapport and momentum that will help when you revisit the issue.

The art of negotiating

At Banana Life, we often see a lot of negotiating amongst teams when they play our games, and we love it! What better space to trial some negotiations skills, get to know your team a little better and above all, have fun? Improve your team dynamic and try one of our events today!