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Negotiation Skills Guide

Negotiation Skills Course for Indian Working Professionals


 I’ve developed a comprehensive Course in HTML with the following 15 topics on Negotiation Skills.

Here are the 15 key points on Negotiation Skills


1. Importance of Negotiation Skills

  • Affects all aspects of professional life—not just about money.
  • Helps preserve relationships, builds influence, and enhances reputation.
  • Quote: “In business, you don’t get what you deserve, you get what you negotiate.” – Chester L. Karrass
  • Example: Rajesh from Bangalore negotiated a phased delivery timeline, saving team burnout and client trust.

2. How to Improve Your Negotiation Skills

  • Prepare thoroughly.
  • Master active listening and read non-verbal cues.
  • Build relationships before pushing for results.
  • Aim for win-win solutions.
  • Example: Priya from Chennai negotiated faster payments for a discount, helping both sides.

3. How to Crack Any Deal

  • Use the 5-Step Framework:
    Research → Strategize → Connect → Navigate → Close
  • Avoid looking desperate.
  • Example: Tata Motors’ acquisition of Jaguar Land Rover by timing it during Ford’s financial crunch.

4. Potential Maximization by Mindset

  • Adjust your mindset by leadership level:
    • Entry: Learn and observe
    • Mid: Balance and adapt
    • Senior: Strategic thinker
  • Example: Nandan Nilekani returned to Infosys with a “stabilizer” mindset and calmed stakeholder disputes.

5. Hook the Emotions to Get the Devotion

  • Emotions build loyalty and influence.
  • Use the C.U.A.A.I. Framework:
    Connect – Understand – Acknowledge – Align – Inspire
  • Example: Kishore Biyani won an international brand by appealing emotionally to Indian market potential.

6. Driving Peak Performance

  • Build a Negotiation Skillset Pyramid:
    • Strategic Vision
    • Creative Problem-Solving
    • Influential Communication
    • Emotional Intelligence
    • Analytical Thinking
  • Example: Ajay Piramal’s smart negotiation with Roche to acquire Nicholas Piramal.

7. Maintaining the Scoreboard

  • Track performance using key negotiation metrics:
    • Economic Value
    • Relationship Capital
    • Process Efficiency
    • Implementation Success
  • Example: Anand Mahindra used a negotiation dashboard during Ssangyong acquisition.

8. Understand Strategy & Execution

  • Know your interests, stakeholders, and scenarios.
  • Balance power and position.
  • Example: Flipkart aligned strategy and execution during its $16 billion deal with Walmart.

9. Converting Execution Failure into Success

  • Follow the 4-A Model:
    Acknowledge – Analyze – Adapt – Advance
  • Example: Snapdeal founders rebounded from failed Flipkart merger with “Snapdeal 2.0”.

10. Develop a Higher Taste to Discard the Lower One

  • Drop low-level tactics like win-lose thinking.
  • Embrace value creation and long-term relationships.
  • Example: Azim Premji evolved Wipro’s business model to premium consulting over price-cutting.

11. Out-of-Turn Promotion Techniques

  • Use negotiation skills to request growth opportunities.
  • Focus on high performance + high potential.
  • Example: Leena Nair rose from HUL to become Global CEO of Chanel by negotiating stretch roles.

12. Reasons and Remedies of CEO Failure

  • Top reasons: Misalignment with stakeholders, cultural clash, poor adaptation.
  • Example: Vishal Sikka’s failure at Infosys due to breakdown in communication with founders.

13. Scalability Solutions for Business Expansion

  • Master both internal and external negotiations:
    • Talent, capital, partnerships, systems
  • Example: BYJU’S scaled using talent management and strategic investor partnerships.

14. Sustainability Solutions for Tough Times

  • Use negotiation for cost-cutting, employee retention, and stakeholder alignment.
  • Example: Vistara renegotiated leases and employee pay during COVID-19, ensuring survival.

15. Competency Analysis: Framework of Strengths & Weaknesses

  • Assess across four domains:
    • Analytical, Interpersonal, Strategic, Process
  • Example: Aditya Birla Group uses a structured framework to train negotiators globally.

Full Course you can access it here: Negotiation Skills Guide

Full Course