Negotiating Skills: Ask For More Than You Expect To Get

It creates some negotiating room, and you might just get what you're asking for.

Whether playing the role of buyer or seller in a sales transaction, asking for more than you expect to get is a classic opening position in negotiations.

In the audio book, "Sound Advice on Negotiating Skills," author Roger Dawson says, "Henry Kissinger called this the key to success at the bargaining table." It's simple, notes Dawson, but there are many profound reasons for doing it.

"It creates some negotiating room that makes it easier to get what you really want," says Dawson. "It creates a climate where the other person can have a win with you." This climate can prevent negotiating deadlocks, especially when dealing with an egotistical negotiator, according to Dawson.

"When you're selling, it raises the perceived value of your product or service," says Dawson. However, some salespeople are so eager to reach agreement that they soften their opening negotiating position. "They hope that by doing this the client will appreciate how generous they've been," says Dawson. "The danger in this is that the client may instead think, 'If they've given us this much, we can get a lot more; let's be tough negotiators.'"

The solution, says Dawson ? a renowned speaker and author of the book, "Secrets of Power Negotiating for Salespeople" ? is to "ask for more than you expect to get, but imply some flexibility so that you can encourage them to negotiate with you."

Roger Dawson offers negotiating skills advice each week in the free audio newsletter from What's Working in Biz, http://www.whatsworking.biz/full_story.asp?ArtID=92

About The Author

Richard Cunningham is a principal of What's Working in Biz, http://www.whatsworking.biz, a publisher of business audiobooks and online audio programs on marketing, sales, and small business strategies.

In The News:


pen paper and inkwell


cat break through


Making the Deal: Women as Negotiators

Negotiating is no game. It is not for the weak... Read More

Can a Corporate Executive Really Use The Beautiful Mind; To guide decision making?

I would like to comment on the "A Beautiful Mind"... Read More

The Most Powerful Persuasion Skill Youll Ever Learn

Criteria ElicitationThis is without a doubt the most important persuasion... Read More

Negotiations: The Art, Science, & Sport of Online Deals

Negotiations can seem as complex as physics, and in fact,... Read More

Negotiate Like a P.R.O.

Whether you're negotiating a peace settlement in a war-torn country... Read More

What Are The Four Types Of Negotiating Outcomes?

Negotiating outcomes are the types of results that can happen... Read More

Writing an RFP (Request for Proposal)

A while back, a potential client provided me... Read More

Can a Service Be a Commodity

Well Enron dealt with this a little for instance an... Read More

Negotiate Your Way to a Better Salary

1. Be persuasive: It's hard to force your boss to... Read More

Negotiating: Forcing vs Compromising

Forcing is a hard-nosed approach that makes heavy demands from... Read More

Barter: Its Not Just for Doctors Anymore

Time was, in the country, the local "doc" was as... Read More

Determine Your Rate And Negotiate Carefully With Unreasonable Clients

Consultants who offer executive assistant or computer services on a... Read More

Managing the Sales Negotiation Process

How many times have you heard:"You've got to drop your... Read More

Ask for More - You May Get More

If you are involved with sales, how do you feel... Read More

Negotiating Tactics: How To Strike A Negotiable Opening Shot

There is no right or wrong to fire up your... Read More

How To Deal With A Complainer

How To Deal With A ComplainerA Complainer Is Characterized by:1.... Read More

30 Tips for Keeping Meeting Expenses to a Minimum

Money makes the world go 'round. And when it comes... Read More

Do You Want a Paycheck or a Passion? 10 Qualities Managers are Looking for in Hiring You

Based upon my research of over 300 managers in the... Read More

Business: Keys To Negotiating Well

Whether it's buying a car, asking for a pay rise,... Read More

How Barter Can Help Your Business Online or Offline

How Barter Can Help Your BusinessBarter trade is a powerful... Read More

Lets Make a Deal

Smart buyers will always ask for a better price. Unfortunately,... Read More

Negotiating Technology Contracts

Have you ever tried to negotiate a deal for software,... Read More

Avoiding and Accomodating in Negotiation

The avoiding approach to negotiating is characterized by losing, leaving,... Read More

Secrets of the Trade Revealed: Bartering for Business

In its simplest form, bartering involves an equal trade. One... Read More

Win-Win Power Negotiating

Let's talk about win-win negotiating. Instead of trying to dominate... Read More

Cross Cultural Negotiations

Cross cultural negotiation is one of many specialized areas within... Read More

7 Tips for Bartering Products and Services

What better way to gain a new customer than by... Read More

National and Cultural Negotiation Style

Cultural and national negotiation styles reflect communication behaviors and the... Read More

While Youre Waiting

Not long ago, I made a partnership pitch, on behalf... Read More

How To Communicate Using Space

What Is Proxemics?The study of the communicative aspects of personal... Read More

The Art of Haggling

Did you know that at one time in this country... Read More

Power Pricing - Getting the Right Price for Your Products and Services

There's an old joke about the New York City blackout.... Read More

The Art of Negotiation in 535 words

I want to get better at negotiation, but where to... Read More