HOW TO NEGOTIATE

If you are involved in a dispute and are looking for the best approach to resolve it, the following quick tips will help you.

1. Resolving disputes requires a recognition that each side has needs or interests that have to be satisfied. And those may involve a piece of property, a business or a relationship where the need for peace and an end to conflict is critical.
2. To reach a compromise with the other party means that finding fault and playing a ‘blame game’ will not and cannot work. Because each side to a dispute has his or her own needs or interests looking to find fault serves only to deepen the conflict.
3. Provided that each side is on reasonable speaking terms, one thing you can do is meet at a neutral location and make up a list of your needs or interests and ask for the other party’s list. The take whatever time you need to read and understand the other’s list.
4. Once this is done, count the number of needs or interests that you both share. Your shared needs or interests  should allow you to work out a practical resolution to your dispute. Put simply, the practical steps each of you is prepared to take to meet your shared needs are the basis of an agreement ending the dispute.