Published on July 28, 2022

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Hack the Skill of Networking in High School!

• Post author By tbrg
• Post date July 28, 2022
• No Comments on Hack the Skill of Networking in High School!

Networking can be difficult and time-consuming for most people. However, there is just no doubting the influence a strong professional network can have on your professional growth. If done correctly, networking would not only help you land a position you desire faster, but it will also offer you a competitive advantage throughout your life! That’s why networking is important for your progress and you must know the ins and outs to become great at networking. Let’s start with the basics!

Networking does not entail soliciting favors, attempting to sell, or communicating knowledge of any kind. It is purely about establishing connections and nurturing them in a way that is mutually beneficial for both parties. While you may think that networking is a very professional act, if you look closely, you can see its uses in everyday life activities  – ranging from getting your morning beverage to getting to your dream college! 

For instance, imagine you walk into the school canteen you visit every lunch break to get your favorite beverage and there is a huge line. Having known the barista on a greater level would mean you would not have to wait in line to get your beverage so you could rush to your class (the canteen barista would definitely pull some strings and set you up). Now coming to getting into your dream college. Having known alumni and attending the summer school for that dream college would facilitate connections with people that might be on the admissions committee and it would also give you first-hand knowledge of the school and its programs – making you a very good candidate!

The History of Networking

The rise of the industrial revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries brought with it the need for businesses to collaborate with and trust a broader range of people and other businesses. It wasn’t enough to cultivate a few partners and customers and then work with them for the rest of your life, as many simple artisans did.

Risk-sharing and resource bundling became more common in business as a way of ‘expanding the pie’ and increasing profit for all parties involved.

People needed to take a longer view and trust others more as they expanded their overseas trade. Investors had to put their faith in sea captains. Manufacturers had to have faith in their suppliers. In order to reduce transaction costs and increase competitive advantage, business partners needed to trust one another. Business also resulted in a significant increase in insurance, beginning with maritime protection and progressing to other business interests. To insure someone, you must trust them, and insurance agents can safely offer lower premiums to those they believe in.

Businesspeople in late-eighteenth-century Britain established capital and credit networks. The resulting increase in trust and decrease in transaction costs resulted in credit expansion and various forms of collective economic diversification, as well as an increased use of the joint-stock form of business organization. All of this could only have been possible on trust which is built by networking!

The interconnectedness of the industrial revolution has now expanded into the knowledge economy, where jobs are becoming more mobile and flexible. The internet has taken networking to a new and frenetic level, with people tweeting and posting multiple times per day. With cell phones and social networking, we can have an infinite number of ‘friends,’ but that still limits the number of people we can realistically know. This paired with the boom in the ‘startup culture’ has made networking even more important to stand out in the crowd!

The Essence of Networking!

Networking is not just about taking because you aim to create a situation that is collectively favorable for both you and the person you tend to form a connection with! A similar principle is followed by negotiating maestros as they share the same goal as good networkers. Master negotiators strive to create a win-win situation. This is the ‘ideal’ outcome as all the parties come to agree upon a resolution that encompasses some benefits for every party, if not all. This specific outcome is considered ideal because it fosters a positive relationship among all the parties that are concerned and benefits everybody! Your connection must feel that having this relationship would be fruitful for them as well (be it now or in the future).

Networking also covers the essence of the exchange of ideas. This benefit can be enjoyed both in your regular and professional life. Having a broad network would mean that you could get feedback from people which may have very different perspectives. This would broaden your knowledge spectrum and foster skills such as creative thinking. If you’re stuck on a project, brainstorming with someone in your network can assist you in getting things moving again. 

According to studies, up to two-thirds of jobs are never advertised and are filled solely through word of mouth. People can open doors to new opportunities for business, career progression, and personal fulfillment by expanding our network. This increases our visibility and increases our chances of meeting the correct individuals at the right time. New ideas almost always come from outside of our immediate circle. As a result, it all comes down to leveraging “the strength of our weak ties,” as sociology professor Mark Granovetter stated in his paper about the unique value of a person we don’t know well.

The Two Types of Networking

The act of networking in the professional setting is not very new. It was only around the late 1970s and early 1980s that the word took over the entire workforce. From the very beginning, the act was considered to have the main goal of benefitting one in business.

1. “Social networking” is a more mild form of networking that people engage in when they are having difficulty making a connection. This frequently comes in the form of self-exposure in environments with a plentiful supply of people to potentially add to your network. People go to school, take classes, or participate in communal hobbies (going to the temple, church or mosque) and sporting activities. Others who are also involved in such activities are frequently looking for company. Interactions allow people to meet and get to know each other. Mutual attraction causes linkages to form. 
2. Many saw “Business Networking”, at least in its early stages, as a valuable new discovery.  Business networking requires focused attention, maintaining records, and network cultivation, all of which take time and money. In small businesses, a business owner’s networking efforts often produce the best results. There are numerous other benefits to networking—of the many potential gains, knowledge sharing is the most beneficial. To reap the benefits of a network, you must first understand what business networking benefits you can obtain as a high schooler itself and the numerous opportunities that it opens up for you! In the end, these connections are very fruitful and have higher stakes (you would not want to lose any of them)! 

The Benefits of Being Good at Networking!

The benefits of networking are endless. By surrounding yourself with people who share a similar drive and ambition, you are more likely to move forward as a group. Here are five benefits of being good at networking!

1. Sharing of Knowledge: Networking is an excellent way to share ideas and knowledge. Asking for feedback or discussing your point of view will help you expand your knowledge and see things from a different perspective.
   It’s also possible that within a community, there will be people who have been where you are now. This gives you the opportunity to learn from their mistakes and avoid them in the future.
2. Opportunities: It is intuitive for networking to lead to opportunities. The only thing you won’t know is when or how they’ll appear. Whether it’s to get referrals for your college application or to get an internship, it’s critical to be ready to seize opportunities as they arise.
3. Connections: Recognize that you are not only gaining exposure to the people in the room, but you are also connecting with their network. If you have made an impact on them and they have a need that matches your business, you will most likely get a recommendation.
   And keep in mind that it is not a one-way street. If someone in your network matches a college you meet at a college fair, don’t be afraid to share their contact information. It will only strengthen your bond.
4. Better Confidence: Regular networking and forcing yourself to talk to people you don’t know will help you gain confidence. This is an important characteristic to have as a future business owner because the growth of your organization is dependent on talking to people and making connections.
5. Profile Development: Being visible and noticeable is a significant advantage of networking. People will start to recognize you if you attend business and social events on a regular basis. By providing useful information or tips to those in need, you can help to build your reputation as a knowledgeable, reliable, and supportive individual. You will also get more leads and referrals because you will be the first person that comes to mind when they need what you offer.

Tips to Become Better!

Connecting with people in such a way that you can add value to their lives or businesses in exchange for them assisting you with your needs.

Here are a few networking tips to help you understand how to become a better networker!

1. Consider making it all about the other person: Everyone’s favorite topic when you meet them at a function or a meeting is themselves. Make sure to keep the conversation focused on them and not on yourself.
   Making it all about the other person is a great way to ensure that this person finds you interesting, which will help you in the future. A great tip to use here is to say three strong words… “Tell me about.” “Tell me about yourself” is a great way to get people to speak regarding themselves.
2. Remember to follow up: One of my favorite networking strategies. Whenever we meet someone we’d like to add to our network, we should make a point of finding them on social media or visiting their website, and emailing or messaging them. In the email or message, we should express how wonderful it was to meet them, thank them for their time, and let them know if they require any assistance. We strongly advise you to try this method. Make it all about them with no expectations of reciprocation.
3. Make First Degree Networks First: If you’ve linked with someone by chance (that is, you did not intend to network), practice contacting that individual and having a discussion. To practice having conversations with people you don’t know very well, talk with people in your office you haven’t talked with much before. Networking does not always imply seeking out new relationships. Nourish the ones you already have and try to invest in them first.
4. Be attentive at all times: Remember what someone tells you about his or her home life or something he or she finds interesting. These slight links come in handy when you meet with that person again or send an email after an event. The more personal your connection, the stronger it becomes.
5. Focus on quality over quantity: Who you network with is far more important than how many people you speak with at an event. You should prioritize the quality of your connections over the quantity. As you do so, you’ll notice that you become a better networker because you’re able to focus on what matters.

Conclusion

Among the most obvious advantages of networking is that it accelerates your growth in school and beyond and improves your communication skills. Don’t limit yourself to traditional networking circles; having a good reputation with a diverse group of people will boost your likelihood of getting referrals and career opportunities. You never know who somebody can introduce you to or what you’d learn.

Take the time to discover the best networking strategy for you and concentrate on making it a pleasant experience. As a result, networking will become less of a chore and much more of a fun opportunity to grow. Trust us, you will not be sorry if you learn how to network effectively.

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Setting SMART Goals in High School!

• Post author By tbrg
• Post date July 28, 2022
• No Comments on Setting SMART Goals in High School!

I am sure everyone has heard of goals, but now you must be wondering what ‘SMART’ goals are. As the name suggests, it is pretty direct – goals that are smart! But now you might ask, how do we make our goals smart? Do not worry, we have got you! 

Let’s start by understanding what exactly are smart goals. Could the word ‘smart’ have another meaning to it when it comes to goals? 

SMART goals are one of the most invaluable objective-setting techniques and yes, the word SMART does have another meaning when it comes to goals. SMART is a popular acronym that stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-bound.

To get a better sense of this, let us take a look at each letter of the SMART acronym:

Specific

General vs Specific Goals:

General goals are vague and that makes it hard for you to make a concrete action plan for them. Thus they are less likely to be accomplished. For example, “I want to get in shape.” 

On the other hand, specific goals are more likely to be accomplished because thinking specifically about the goal you want to achieve helps devise a plan of action with ease. For example, “I will join the gym, workout 4 times a week, and start eating better.” 

It is easy to spot the difference between the 2 examples above and one must follow the latter to achieve one’s goals.

Now, how do we set specific goals? 

We do so by including the 6 W’s- Why, When, Who, Where, Which, and What.  

• Why: Identify Specific reasons, purpose or benefits of accomplishing the goal.
• When: Establish a time frame.
• Who: Figure out who is involved
• Where: Identify a location.
• Which: Identify requirements and constraints.
• What: What do you want to accomplish?

So, if I wanted to make a goal regarding finishing my exam syllabus before time, this is what the six W’s could look like-

• Why: Because I want to score well on the exam.
• When: 1 month before the exam month (say July).
• Who: Myself/ tutor/ teacher (whom I may want extra hours with for doubts)
• Where: At the study table in my house/ local library.
• Which: Not managing my time well and giving into distractions might slow down my progress. Thus, I need a fixed schedule with breaks and need to put my phone away while studying.
• What: Finishing the syllabus so that I can score well on my exams.

Measurable

When you measure your progress, you hold yourself accountable. This accountability factor oftentimes gives you a push to reach your goals. To make your goals measurable, you need to have concrete criteria, which in turn can be done using the 3 H’s, wherein numbers come into play. 

To ensure that your goals are measurable, you can ask yourself questions such as:

• How much work?
• How many people, hours?
• How will I know when it is accomplished?

Taking the same example of studying to complete my syllabus before the exam, this is what the 3 H’s could look like.

• How much – 10 chapters
• How many – 6 hours per day for 1 month, and 1 hour of tuition with 1 tuition teacher
• How will I know when it is accomplished – when my 10 chapters are over/ when I finish studying 6 hours a day 

Achievable/Attainable

A good goal would be that which you believe you can achieve.

Planning your steps wisely can help achieve any goal. However, it is always better to start small and then grow to meet the bigger goals. The reason behind this is that when you list down or come up with goals that mean something to you and are important, you start searching for qualities within yourself that can facilitate the attainment of these goals. This is because in order to achieve bigger goals you need to acquire qualities that you may not possess at present. Thus, you must be self-aware before deciding on your goals. Once you know of the qualities you have and those you will need it becomes easier to grow into achieving a larger goal. 

However, achieving goals like getting into an Ivy League Universities can be intimidating. As important as this goal is, it is not achievable without achieving smaller goals like starting an extracurricular activity, acquiring leadership skills or making sure you have a well-rounded development etc. These activities will help build your portfolio, and that is what will then facilitate admission into a great university. 

Now you may easily observe that a small activity like starting an extracurricular activity is more achievable than a big goal like getting into a great university. However, the small activity does not need to be an isolated one, it could be a way or step to reach your big goal. What this brings us to is that when you identify goals that are important to you, you begin finding out ways/steps that will help you achieve those big goals. You grow and expand into these goals by developing attitudes, financial capacity, skills, abilities, etc. 

If you make unrealistic goals which are not achievable in the time frame you give yourself, it will just lead to demotivation and stress. Hence, we should judge our capability and capacity before deciding on our goals in order to plan them in an achievable manner.

Realistic

To make your goals realistic, you must be “willing” and “able” to work towards them. Even the hardest of goals are achievable with the right motivation and resources. 

The willingness brings us to the relevance of the goals as well. Naturally, you would be more willing to work on a goal that you yourself deem important and urgent. This is because that goal is more relevant to you. If today you say you want to study medicine, you will be more willing to work towards it than if your teachers or parents were to tell you the same. Thus, the more personal or urgent the goal is to you, the more willing you are to take the necessary steps to achieve it. 

Moreover, you are also more likely to want to work towards expanding and developing your abilities for a goal that you are willing to achieve because the right motivation is present. Thus, with the right balance and combination of willingness and ability, or in other terms, your motivation and resources, you make your goal realistic and relevant. 

Furthermore, if you believe that you can achieve your goal, it is probably realistic. Another way to check whether your goals are realistic or not is to analyse what resources you would need and if you have access to them; what conditions/obstacles could arise and if you will be able to overcome them or if you have been able to achieve something similar in the past. 

Time-Bound

Deadlines are going to be your saviour when it comes to accomplishing your goals because they bring in a sense of urgency. If you say “I will finish 20 chapters”, what that misses is a time frame. You can easily finish 20 chapters in 2 months but if your exams are in 1 month then asserting the timeline of 1 month is imperative. Now the goal will look something like this, “I will finish 20 chapters in less than a month.” 

One thing to keep in mind, however, is not to make unrealistic deadlines. If you say you want to finish 20 chapters in 5 days, it is quite impossible and it will in turn crush your willingness and motivation. So again, make sure that it is doable. 

All letters of the acronym SMART, tie in with each other in some way or the other. By making your goals time-bound, you are not only making them specific but also realistic and measurable. 

Something you could do is time yourself finishing one of the hardest/ longest chapters to gauge an estimate of how long it will take you to do each chapter. You should time the hardest/ longest chapter because if you time the easiest one, it is obvious it will be a much lesser timing. And when you are not able to finish every chapter at the same time, you will get demotivated and feel stressed because you have now planned your schedule according to the easiest chapter and now the hard chapters start looking even more intimidating than they already are. 

Now that we have successfully analysed the 5 letters of the acronym SMART, here are a few tips especially for students who are preparing for an exam and struggling, that could help them frame and follow their SMART Goals: 

1. Get yourself a planner well in advance. Being ahead of time will help you plan much better and it will be easier for you to follow it. Even if you lag behind on something you will have enough time to come back to it later. 
2. Write down the syllabus you need to complete for each subject and be as specific as you can. You can divide your syllabus into a number of chapters and chapters into a number of further sub-divisions etc. This will break it down for you so that you can estimate how much time it would take you to finish a chapter and subsequently the syllabus, which in turn will make your goal measurable as well. 
3. Tick each topic off your list once you are done with it because not only will you get a boost from the topics you are finishing but also an idea about how much work is remaining. If a chapter ever got too much for me, I would leave the last 1 or 2 subtopics and move on to the next; however, since those subtopics were not ticked in my planner, I always remembered to come back to them later.
4. Make a week-wise timetable and again try to go into the number of hours you will study in a day, the number of chapters you will finish in a day and by the end of the week etc. Do make sure to add in the necessary breaks to make it achievable because we all know it is impossible to study for 24 hours a day. Add in some power naps, some physical activity, maybe a music break etc. You can use the Google Calendar app to device your schedule; it is what I used and was extremely helpful because it gave me reminders too! 

This is an example of a schedule on Google Calendar that you can take reference from. I have planned a day where I aim to mainly get done with some math syllabus. As you can see, on the app I can be specific with the number of hours I want to devote to each task. I have also added necessary switch ups i.e. English, because just one subject can get monotonous, breaks, and physical activity like dance which would help me reduce anxiety or stress that may come up during the day. Physical activity releases endorphins as well, which facilitate the production of the brain’s feel-good neurotransmitters, called endorphins which elevate mood, energise you etc. Moreover, I have left blank, white spaces in the schedule so that if I am unable to complete a particular task in the stipulated time then I could carry it over to the blank spaces. For more useful study resources, check out this blog.

1. Make sure to keep your goals for the week/day realistic. If you expect too much from yourself, not reaching said goals may demotivate you. This was a mistake I always made and I hope that after reading this you will avoid it.  
2. If you want, add a reward for yourself at the end of every week or maybe at the end of every day too! This worked for me because I had something to look forward to once I completed a certain portion of my syllabus. 
3. The obstacle that you may face in general while trying to accomplish your SMART goals is procrastination. Putting your work off to the end will go against the entire concept of smart goals. All your effort will go to waste if you do not follow through with your schedules and deadlines effectively. Here is where you can get a few tips on how to stop procrastinating- https://www.snhu.edu/about-us/newsroom/education/how-to-stop-procrastinating.
4. Prioritise – put away your distractions, be it your phone, food (a huge distraction, at least for a foodie like me) etc. while you are studying. This is actually one of the most helpful tips. Everyone knows they should do this but actually executing it will help you focus.
5. The sense of satisfaction you will get when you tick off topics on your syllabus sheet will naturally motivate you to do more 🙂

If you follow these, you will be able to manage your time much better and will be able to effectively achieve your SMART Goals. 

Pro Tip– Try to start studying early in the morning. Your focus will be much more and by lunchtime, you will already feel like you have accomplished a lot. Trust me, I have tried studying from 2-6 am without sleep telling everyone that I study better at night, but the amount I could study that way compared to what I could early in the morning differed by leaps and bounds. 

Happy SMART Goal Setting!! Here is a worksheet you can use as an activity to get started on your goals- https://trio.ucsd.edu/_files/staff_forms/SMART%20goal%20setting%20sheet 

Published on July 27, 2022

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Student Leadership – Ways in which teens can become better leaders by carrying out social change

• Post author By tbrg
• Post date July 27, 2022
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The young are not just the leaders of tomorrow, they are fast reshaping today too! They are the catalysts of change and are making a difference in the world. Through social media events/posts, online blog posts, or taking part or creating a social change event, the teens are not just discovering their wings – they are already bridging the gap between today and tomorrow!   

Social change activities are great at uncovering and nurturing future leaders. They offer a real world experience about how a change movement is conceptualised, how the idea is disseminated, how a team is built around a common shared goal, how the intricacies of the event are planned, how the responsibilities are shared and finally how success is achieved. They provide the right platform to nurture and forge better leaders. There are many ways in which teens can become better leaders by carrying out social change.    

Through Volunteering

Volunteering can be a great learning experience. The task might be anything – a teaching activity, an eco-club event, conservation work, awareness campaigns, volunteering at the local hospital, vaccination drives etc. By being a part of an event, a teen can gain deeper insights into how an organisational structure functions. It helps the teen to understand how the giant machinery of an event is built and set into motion! 

Also, being an agent of social change requires self-awareness. It requires a teen to evaluate strengths and shortcomings – plan action better and lead the team to success. Through the activity, a teen can strive to make a real difference – and, conversely, the activity can make a real difference in the teen! Volunteering for activities helps a teen become a better leader.

Through Writing

‘Pen is mightier than sword’ is an oft overused and abused cliche, but one that still rings true. Through writing, a teen has access to a powerful medium that can reach and influence many. The benefits of connectivity that technology offers means that you can reach out to and influence millions of people around the world. 

The writing can be of any form – from social media posts, to hashtags, to blog posts, to articles for the print media, or even books – there is no limit. Writing about a cause or a movement helps you be the change and make a difference. It draws attention to the cause. Better the writing, the better it can connect to others. 

Writing cultivates the capacity to think, augments knowledge about various subjects, broadens perspectives and improves effective communication skills – in short, it helps you become a better leader.

Participating in group events

‘Social’ change – it cannot happen in isolation, can it? Bringing about a social change requires motivated and committed teams – and people ready to lead them. By stepping up and taking up the responsibility, you can gain invaluable hands-on experience in communicating effectively by improving your listening and expressive communication skills, managing people and tasks, assigning responsibilities and delegating, planning the course of action, developing problem solving skills and negotiating and overcoming differences – to sum up, everything necessary to become a better leader!

Thinking out of the box

An out of the box idea gains traction. Creativity helps generate new ideas that will form the basis for a change initiative. Teens can make a difference by finding ways to be completely unique. By thinking out of the box, you develop the power to think about alternate models – what is and what could have been. If you want to change the current system, you must look outside for fresh ideas. Greta Thunberg’s campaign that made the world pay attention to climate change, Malala Yousafzai’s change initiative that advocates for the rights of girls around the world to receive education, Tilak Mehta’s inspired startup Papers N Parcels that gave hundreds of Mumbai dabbawalas an additional source of income all started out as ideas that broke the mould.      

The ability to think out of the box and see the idea to fruition is what sets great leaders apart.

The importance of a good Leadership Development programme

 

A leadership development programme provides you with opportunities and equips you with the necessary skills and confidence to participate in activities and workshops. It helps you to learn from challenges – by teaching you evaluation, planning, strategies, work allocation and analysing results. The training is not just restricted to learning, a good leadership development program encourages you to participate in real world events and make a difference.

Published on July 23, 2022

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Mastering the Art of Negotiation For Teens!

• Post author By tbrg
• Post date July 23, 2022
• No Comments on Mastering the Art of Negotiation For Teens!

Negotiation is a back-and-forth social interaction between two or more parties where the primary focus is to reach a mutual agreement that benefits all. It is a very important form of social interaction between parties that share both common interests and areas of conflict!

According to Investopedia, 

“A negotiation is a strategic discussion that resolves an issue in a way that both parties find acceptable. In a negotiation, each party tries to persuade the other to agree with his or her point of view. By negotiating, all involved parties try to avoid arguing but agree to reach some form of compromise.”

Negotiations are a great tool to solve major world issues as they act as a very efficient medium to initiate discussions! The Great U.S President John F. Kennedy said the following statement in his inaugural address on the 20th of January 1961 – 

“Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.

Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring those problems which divide us.

Let both sides, for the first time, formulate serious and precise proposals for the inspection and control of arms–and bring the absolute power to destroy other nations under the absolute control of all nations.

Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors. Together let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths and encourage the arts and commerce.

Let both sides unite to heed in all corners of the earth the command of Isaiah–to undo the heavy burdens . . . (and) let the oppressed go free.”

After every negotiation, one party always ‘wins’ and the other must settle for less or compromise in some way. In this article, we will be discussing the various aspects involved in the skill of negotiation!

The Elements of Negotiation

The very essence of any negotiation is to present one’s position/stand on the concerned issue and present conditions that the other party will agree to. This process continues until both parties can form a resolution that all parties can mutually agree to. The act of negotiation can be thought of as a battle where the participants strategize and plan by learning about all the other sides taking to craft strong arguments and defend with counters!

There are five key elements that must be kept in mind during negotiations:

1. Trust: For any negotiation to be successful there must be a sense of trust between the participants to ensure that they do not feel that they are being taken advantage of. Trust also refers to sticking to proposals/commitments that are made during the negotiation and not backing out.

2. Relationships: When going into a negotiation, you must take note of the kind of relationship shared between you and the other party. You must be mindful of how you present your stand and make sure that as the negotiation unfolds, the relationship between the parties must remain the same, if not progress further.

3. Interests: This has to be the most important element of any negotiation as interests and benefits form the foundations of negotiations. The wants and interests of the parties form the backbone of discussion and are the key drivers of the same. Good negotiators focus on the other parties’ benefits as well to frame solutions that are mutually beneficial.

4. Communication: There are a number of skills that one must master to learn to speak and listen effectively as they greatly help in ensuring one’s negotiations are successful. Apart from that, a foundational skill such as good communication really helps build confidence in teenagers! Actively listening to the other party, presenting your stand in a fair manner, and bringing forth resolutions that benefit all are just some of the many points that one must work upon to tackle the skill of effective communication!

5. Alternatives: One must always prepare for the worst in every situation. There may be situations where the other party denies to agree to certain terms. At such times, one must identify the consequences and implications of agreeing to let go of that term and make an educated decision on it.

The Process of Negotiation

Every negotiation has three stages to it:

1. The Planning Phase: This is a pre-negotiation phase where one must prepare by devising the plan of approach, the communication style, and the tone that one will carry when proceeding to the negotiation. You must have clear objectives and plan the desired outcomes you expect out of the interaction. There are times when the other party won’t accept the terms stated by you or the party you represent so you must prepare a least desirable outcome. Finally, one can never ‘over-prepare’ so you should take your time with this process and be confident!

2. The Engaging Phase: This is when we get into the actual negotiation stage and this forms the main body of the same. You should make your proposals and actively listen to what the other party responds to. You must not be very pushy with your demands while keeping your objectives in mind. Research has shown that a passive-aggressive approach to any negotiation has the highest potential to turn out a success!

3. The Closing Phase: The length of negotiations also plays a critical role in shaping its outcome. You must keep in mind that it must not be too short (so as to lead to a situation where both parties are uninformed) or too long (such that it tires out the other party and makes them irritable). Once you find the sweet spot for concluding negotiations, you must follow the after-negotiation actions. These include following up on commitments, articulating the discussions that took place, acquiring formal proposals/agreements from the other party, and many more!

Every negotiation has two possible outcomes:

• A win-win situation is created. This is the ‘ideal’ outcome of a negotiation and all the parties come to agree upon a resolution that encompasses some benefits for every party, if not all the desired benefits are covered. This specific outcome is considered ideal because it fosters a positive relationship among all the parties that are concerned that benefits everybody!
• A win-lose outcome is created. This creates an adversarial state where one side has conceded to the conditions of the other party that benefits more from the mutual resolution. This outcome is also called a “fixed-pie” situation where the interests of the parties are conflicting.

The Don’ts of Negotiation!

Don’t be pushy! To have a successful negotiation, you must let go of the “all-or-nothing” attitude as it is hardly going to work in your favor. You should prioritize the needs/desirable outcomes that you expect out of the interaction. This is because, in 90% of negotiations, you have to let go of many of your demands to accommodate the ones proposed by the other party. Everybody hates bullies and people will not think twice before walking away if the negotiation has one. Apart from the “all-or-nothing” attitude, you will have to let go of any pride/ego that you carry when you walk into any negotiation.

Don’t underestimate yourself! This is a very common mistake that people new to the skill of negotiation commit. One must keep themselves in very high regard as long as you do not undermine the other party. When enquired about your expectations, do not shy away from asking for more than what you deserve (obviously in a calm and non-aggressive manner). Another trick used by negotiation maestros is to give their ‘adversary’ the idea that they are winning the negotiation by undercutting your “unrealistic outcomes” (not the ones that you plan to get approved)!

Don’t let emotions get the better of you! In any negotiation, do not let emotions interfere with your approach as it can lead to blunders that cause the interaction to go horribly wrong. The best way to avoid any such blunders is by being calm and friendly throughout even if the other party is not!

The 4 Golden Rules of Negotiation

The key to any successful negotiation is not that difficult to master and sticking to these five rules is sure to help you in future negotiations that you take part in.

1. Listening is Key: Finding people that talk a lot is not that difficult but coming across people that are great listeners is very rare. You do not need to be the loudest voice in any interaction to make an impact, being a good listener and acknowledging what others have to say goes a long way in ensuring that the negotiation goes in your favor. A golden rule of hand that one should keep in mind is to listen 70% of the time and speak in the other 30%.

2. Exit if you have to: You must know that you are not going to win every negotiation you take part in. There are times when you have to concede and you must know when to walk away from negotiations that do not go your way.

3. Keep it Formal: Going into negotiations, you must keep your feelings/emotions aside. Your complete focus must be on your objectives and the points that you need to put forward. Remember that negotiations are like war and you must not take offense from the words/actions of the other party.

4. Do your homework: If there is one thing that high school has taught us the best is to do one’s homework! The better informed you are about the issue being discussed, the higher your chances will be of having successful negotiations. Few points that you must prepare yourself with include – understanding the needs of the other party, your negotiating limit (the least objectionable term), and your options or the options of the party you represent!

Final Takeaways:

Now that you know everything there is to know about the ins and outs of becoming a better negotiator, you must remember that the most important element of a good negotiator is that they are very engaged in conversations and understand the importance of both listening and speaking. It is always great to have a win-win negotiation so all the sides are happy and you can part ways on good terms after negotiations. 

Below is a very fun activity that was born from Roger Fisher’s famous book – “Getting to a Yes”.

The activity is nicknamed “The Battle for the Orange” (the teams are not told this name as the activity has a secret element to it) and features two groups of teenagers. One of the groups is secretly told that their objective throughout the game is to get the orange to make orange juice. On the other hand, the second team is secretly informed that their primary goal is to get the orange because they need the peel to make an orange cake. Then, we get the two groups in front of each other and set a timer for 3 minutes, place an orange between them and just say “Go!”

This is an amazing experiment demonstrating human behavior and the lack of information and instruction regarding the process of the experiment makes it successful. On account of this, we get to see a number of different outcomes from this experiment. A large number of times, one group just takes the orange and refuses to give it back or negotiate. Results from the experiment also indicate that groups will be inclined to divide the orange in half and go ahead. Lastly, communication between the groups goes a step further and they actually converse about the reasons they need the orange – leading to an ideal situation where both the groups understand that they want different parts of the fruit and negotiate successfully. Now, this is what I call a win-win negotiation! 

Negotiation is a fundamental skill in today’s world and is key to moving ahead in every organization that you are a part of. The importance of this skill is not discussed a lot but negotiations can prevent wars and solve major world problems!