Print This Article     Email This Article to a Friend       The Art of Negotiation   Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. —1 Corinthians 1:10 KJV Speaking the same thing, being of the same mind and judgment, no divisions—can you imagine your workplace being like this? Most of us shake our heads, roll our eyes, and grimace as we think of all the differences of opinion found in the workplace. How could all those people come together in agreement like Paul talked about? Through the Art of Negotiation. The word negotiation doesn’t appear in the Bible, but it is a principle which permeates the whole book. If we want to walk in harmony with each other, we have to negotiate with others to resolve our differences. What exactly is negotiation? It is the resolution of differences in a way acceptable to both parties. When two parties are looking for a solution to a disagreement, they can often compromise (neither side gets one-hundred percent of what it wants) or reach a trade-off (when one party gives in on one point because it is not as important to them as it is to the other person). To become a skilled negotiator, first purpose to resolve the conflict in a way that is mutually beneficial to both parties. Initiate the process by confronting the people involved and letting them know your desire to resolve the frustration or conflict. And be clear in your purpose—you aren’t out to humiliate them and you’re not trying to win the argument. (Remember, each side should approach negotiation knowing that whatever the end result is, the relationship is more important than getting everything you initially asked for.) Establish Your Refusal Parameters Part of negotiating is recognizing what parts you will not compromise on. There are some things God has told you to do which you won’t do differently. Period. Establish these refusal parameters in your own mind before you go into the negotiation session. In addition to that, take time to decide on the things you are willing to trade off or compromise. Decide what you can yield on; decide what you are willing to give up completely. That is your negotiating material right there. Give all you can to the other person, employing the love of God. The Bible says love never fails (1 Corinthians 13:8.) Yield to the other person’s concerns everywhere you can without violating your refusal parameters or the Scriptures. Agree to Resolve Do what you can to diffuse the threat of confrontation by agreeing, first of all, that the conflict has to be resolved. Sit down with the other person and say, “Look, I know it may seem like our differences are insurmountable, but they’re not. In order to keep peace in our workplace, we should strive to resolve this situation. If you and I will both make that determination, I am willing to yield to reason. I care about your concerns and your viewpoints. I assume the same is true for you.” Identify the Principle Point of Difference In many instances, particularly when a disagreement is several months or even years old, we do not really know what started it all. All we know is someone acted ugly. Most of the time, the communication has become distorted. Sometimes, when the situation is explored, the conflict ultimately has no solid basis. Clearly identifying and agreeing on the problem is a big step in the right direction. Developing Momentum These are a few keys that will help you when you need to negotiate with your fellow workers. They are important to remember if momentum in your company is ever going to develop; there has to be unity—singleness of purpose and objective. Strife and division will halt your progress. There can be no room for personal agendas or any kind of divisive individualism. And you, as part of the company you work for, need to be contributing to the unity of your corporate vision, not pulling apart the company through divisive behavior. Learning the art of negotiation is key to developing and maintaining unity within your workplace.
HOME |  WORKPLACE WISDOM |  MAC HAMMOND'S BIO |  WINNER'S LUNCHEON |  RESOURCES   MAC HAMMOND MINISTRIES · PO BOX 29469 · MINNEAPOLIS · MN · 55429 Copyright © 2010 Living Word Christian Center, All rights reserved.