What Do You Do When Negotiations Stall?
By
Mark Jankowski
There’s a lot of give and take in Project Management and sometimes that give and take comes to a standstill. When a deadlock occurs, before pronouncing the deal dead, try following these steps:
- Change negotiators - sometimes it's who is negotiating not what they're negotiating.
- Change the setting - locations get stale. A change of scenery, offices, rooms, and even cities can feel like progress and result in progress
- Bring in a mediator - neutral parties don't have their egos tied up in the deal
- Recount the issues of agreement - before you give up, remember how far you've come.
Sometimes, though, the best deal is no deal. Know your real bottom-line so you know when you're better off walking away. Rather than forcing a one-time deal, start over, and make a new deal where you can build a relationship that will lead to future deals.
