Introduction

Negotiation is about creativity, not compromise.

Whether you’re aware of it or not, you’re negotiating all the time. When you ask your boss for more resources, agree with a vendor on a price, deliver a performance evaluation, convince a business partner to join forces with your company, or even decide with your spouse where to go on your next vacation, you’re taking a potentially conflict-filled conversation and working toward a joint solution. That’s what a negotiation is—a situation in which two parties with potentially competing incentives and goals come together to create a solution that satisfies everyone.

It’s not just high-stakes, months-long discussions that warrant a thoughtful approach. Improving your ability to handle ...

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