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Negotiation is a complex process that can involve formal or informal talks. The first step is understanding the issue, followed by presenting each side’s case and exploring various solutions. The final stage involves defining and fulfilling the agreement, which may require long-term commitment or partnership. If necessary, negotiations can start over to find a better solution.
The negotiation process is a complex series of actions that seeks to deliver a mutually acceptable outcome to two dissenting parties. Formal negotiations can take place with the assistance of a qualified mediator who acts as an impartial third party in dealing with the issues at hand. For a professional negotiator, the process can follow a series of definitive steps. However, negotiations can also take place on a more informal level and the process in these cases can become less structured.
The first step in any negotiation process involves understanding the issue at hand. This step often occurs before the two sides enter into formal talks. Each party must enter the negotiations with a clear idea of what the conflict is and what it wants to achieve from the proceedings.
Once in negotiations, the next step is for each side to present their case. This involves explaining what the individual’s goal is, what he wants to gain and what he is willing to offer in return. Both sides need to listen to each other for the negotiations to proceed successfully. If a mediator is present, he will keep a close note of these proceedings in order to offer creative solutions that work for both parties.
Most of the negotiation process is a constant back and forth of ideas, options, and even discussions between the two parties. The first solution offered is rarely the final choice. This part of the process varies greatly depending on the type of negotiations you are dealing with. If a negotiator is involved, he or she will direct this stage of the process by offering various solutions and continuously working with both parties to find a mutually acceptable agreement.
This phase of the negotiation process, in which dissenting parties take time to explore various solutions, can take place over several sessions. Commercial negotiations for a large company can take weeks before an acceptable solution is found. For smaller negotiations, such as inter-office matters between two colleagues, this step can be much easier, as it only involves a short discussion before an agreement is reached.
Once the process of finding a solution is complete, negotiations enter the final stages of the process. The agreement is clearly defined for both parties, often in a written contract. This document is thoroughly reviewed and modified as necessary until it meets the satisfaction of all parties involved. Once the contract has been accepted and signed by both parties, the steps therein must be completed.
The final stage of the negotiation process is the fulfillment of the agreement. This can be as simple as swapping assets and parting ways. In more complex negotiations, the solution can be a long-term commitment or a working partnership between two parties. If at any point the agreement no longer works for one or both parties, negotiations can start over to amend the contract and find a better and more sustainable solution.
