The winter holiday season is a good time to refresh the spirit of collaborative negotiation. What can be better for the holidays than fostering situations that benefit everyone involved as much as possible? Negotiators with the spirit of the season still ask for a discount when doing that holiday shopping or end-of-year deal, but remember the best deals are good for everyone now and when the New Year comes along.
We sometimes see the Grinch negotiator slinking into town with Grinchly, short-term and hard-core negotiation tactics that cast a green and sickly shadow on relationships. Fortunately, the EMBA graduates know a Grinch when they see one–and would rather see than “be” one!
The holidays are a time of transformation for many people—the New Year even more so. We can use that spirit of transformation and new beginnings to open a conversation with our least favorite negotiation partners. If there is a business relationship that has been Grinchly, adversarial, or less mutual gains than you would prefer, use the holidays as a time to start afresh. Sharing a newly acquired perspective of different ways to negotiate could be the best holiday gift of all.
Best wishes to all,
Suzanne McCorkle, PhD
Co-Chair, Department of Public Policy & Administration
Director, Office of Conflict Management Services and Dispute Resolution Certificate Program
Boise State University
