Monday 11 May 2015

Photographs - Value Based Negotiation - LOB by Trainers Forum - Sun, 10th May @ Hotel Fortune Park

Vinaya Bhat

Shilpa Gothi

Francis

Sanjay Talukdar

Milind Kher

Jane Sha

Sachin Kamath


Sadhan Bhattacharya


Tamatar Role Play by Viral Manek and Jane Sha


Shiv Bhaskar & Chaula

Gauri Kher - making a point


Uday Bahulekar presenting a memento to our speaker - Sadhan Bhattacharya



Notes from session on Value Based Negotiation written by Mr Vamana Nayak - Learning Over Breakfast - Trainers Forum - Sun, 10th May 2015


Value-Based Negotiation – A Master Class by Mr. Sadhan Bhattacharya, CPLP
(Highlights of the session held at Thane on Sunday, 10th May 2015 under the banner of Trainers Forum www.TrainersForum.in 

Written by  Mr Vamana Nayak - Manager at Stock Holding Corporation of India Limited

What is negotiation?
Negotiation is not a competitive sport. It is not arm-twisting. Negotiation is a series of conversations aimed at arriving at a mutually beneficial solution. Kids are the best negotiators with their parents as they do not give up. It is to be remembered that Price is what you pay and Value is what you perceive.

Features of not so effective negotiation
1. Focus on price; not on value
2. Unwillingness to have/ continue relationship
3. Unwillingness to discontinue relationship
4. Inadequate information/ domain expertise
5. Unrealistic initial expectations
6. Bad mood of the parties
7. Inadequate preparation
8. Compulsion to balance conflicting/ unrealistic expectations of the internal stakeholders
9. Lack of clarity on the deliverables
10. Lack of clarity on the minimum expectations to be met
11. Unwilling to offer something extra or a different combination say a “silver bullet”
12. Short-term focus of the parties
12. Unbalanced power between the parties
13. Lack of alignment of values
14. Time pressure to decide
It helps if features, advantages and benefits (FAB) are offered to elicit a better response.


Components of Value-based negotiation
1. Value Base
2. You
3. Product/ Service
4. Pricing
5. Your organization – Brand equity of the organization is helpful.

Effective Versus not so effective negotiation
1. Position taken
2. People
3. Use of options, resources

Wal-Mart is rated as the toughest negotiator with its suppliers. Any deal with this Company is termed as “Kiss of Death” as the supplier gets badly squeezed out. Procter and Gamble is one entity which has been able to adequately respond to this challenge.
Educating and then negotiating could lead to better outcomes. Position is to be taken after understanding the other party well. Sometimes, the Power of Weak Signals comes in the way of this.
Positional bargaining is the antithesis of value-based bargaining. Interest is the root cause and position is the symptom. We need to look beyond the stated position and understand the underlying interest. When price is the focus, distinguishing the front-end and back-end margins in the form of offers, maintenance contracts and long-term discounts could help break the logjam.

Value-based Negotiation – Understanding the model (PIOC)
1. People: People are to be separated from issues. In protracted international negotiations, moving to a new place –  eg Moving to balcony may help ease the pressure. The is equivalent of Meta space in NLP. This helps to declutter the mind.
2. Interests: Focus on interests; not on positions.
3. Options: Invent multiple options for action.
4. Criteria: Insist that results be based on objective criteria.


In case of a post-rating conversation between the rater and the rate in performance management discussion, the rater has the option to bring forth compulsions of the forced distribution based on the bell-shaped curve. He may also focus on future by discussing the Individual Development Plan (IDP) on a periodic basis.

Value Pursuit:
1. Value discovery
2. Value creation
3. Value claiming

Win-Win position is achieved by enlarging the value pie so that both the parties can claim a larger share of the pie in absolute terms.
A Chinese value-investor ascribed his success in business by his approach of leaving a little more to the other party which led to his gaining more as more parties will be interested in dealing with him in future.

Walk-Away Options:
BATNA – Best Alternative to Negotiated Agreement. Create alternatives as a fall-back option.

Non-negotiables in negotiation:
1. Ethics
2. Dealing with terrorists

ZOPA – Zone of Possible Agreement
This is the area which is the maximum price the buyer is willing to pay and the minimum price at which the seller is willing to sell. If there is no common area, there is no ZOPA.

Buyer’s Walk away < Seller’s Walk away
- Develop a list of options you might take, if no agreement is reached.
- Develop some of your more promising ideas and convert them into practical alternatives. (Be creative)
- Select the one alternative that seems the best.
- Walk away from the negotiations.
-  BATNA – Enables us to negotiate with confidence.

Assertiveness in negotiation: ‘Positive No’: Y-N-Y
1. Yes – What you care deeply about yourself (Internally focused)
2. No –  Say No with logic/ rationality
3. Yes – Suggest alternative options (Externally focused)

1. Yes
- Begins on a positive note
- Stems from interest and not from position
- Reflects what is important to you
- Internally focused

2. No
- Safeguards your interests
- Based on rational, objective criteria
- Appreciates others interests
- Seeks alternatives with the participation of the other side
3. Yes
- Reaffirms commitment to pursue the suggested alternatives
- Preserves the long-term relationship
- Externally focused
Dealing anger with an equal or higher degree of anger could be counter-productive.

Resources:
1. The Power of a Positive No – William Ury
2. Getting to Yes – Roger Fisher and William Ury