Post #3: Negotiation

We are now getting into "Negotiation" and have already spent two classes on this topic. For each class, we were given a scenario and assigned to come up with the best resolution or agreement that can satisfy both or all roles in the scenario. The first one was "The Two Oranges" and the second one was "Louisiana Pine Snake Eggs". The common solution for these two scenarios was to give a part of the objects to one negotiator and give the other part to another negotiator. For the former, dividing into an orange peel and the inside (a juicy part) and for the latter, an egg yolk and an egg white. In other words, we could come up with a win-win solution for two scenarios.

Learning about negotiation skills reminded me of negotiators working at the Metropolitan Police Department. Their profession is obviously to negotiate. But it requires a number of skills and practices for them to be successful negotiators. Their negotiation is a matter of life or death; their task is to appease a criminal and persuade them to release hostages. What they aim for is only one outcome: Win-Win. Their loss signifies death.When this type of negotiation occurs, the situation is not usually calm; the criminal easily gets furious and agitated. However, negotiators need to stay calm and choose the best solution and responses that lead to it. In any case of negotiation, information is everything; every piece of information becomes a lubricant to make the conversation smooth.