5 Tips To Create Win-Win Relationships
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For your business to succeed, you have to create strategic relationships with people in your industry. When you network, you need to develop and cultivate mutually beneficial relationships, also known as win-win. If you are unsure how to grow these, we have provided some advice for creating win-win business relationships.
5 Tips for Successful Relationship-Building
Keep People Separate From The Problem
When there is a business issue with a colleague, do not see the other person as your opponent. Try to ignore any personality differences and keep your focus on the issue at hand. You should also try to recognize the perception of the other person for it to be easier to find common ground.
Make sure that all communication with the other party is perfectly clear and there aren’t any misunderstandings. The best tactic is to use active listening techniques, which include listening carefully, looking directly at the person, and allowing each person to finish before responding.
Keep Your Focus on Interests, Not Positions
There are reasons why people have a difference of opinion. A particular issue may be seen differently by someone with a different cultural background. When you let people know that their interests are considered, they are more likely to be more receptive to a different point of view.
This is why you need to see others for their interests and not the position. The person who you are negotiating with may be under pressure in his or her position to reduce costs. Find that common interest between the two of you such as increasing your team’s productivity.
Create Options for Mutual Gain
If there is an understanding of each other’s interests, you may be able to come to an agreement. If that is not possible, consider a new position and negotiate from there to explore your options.
It might come time for you to brainstorm and come up with new solutions to your problem. Hear all suggestions offered, then develop the best ones into proposals to bring to the next meeting.
Have Criteria That Is Objective
You cannot just state a random bunch of facts. These facts can be interpreted differently by different people depending on many factors such as their background. But you can not choose facts that support only your position. Your information must be objective.
You need to set a sample of objective criteria to provide a framework for your discussion. This could include many factors such as legal standards, contractual terms, mission statements, and more. When you can agree on standards, it demonstrates a commitment to reaching an agreement.
Have a Best Alternative To A Negotiated Agreement Ready
A Best Alternative To A Negotiated Agreement (BATNA) is your favored fallback position if you cannot get everything you want in the initial negotiation. It can help you discover a new course of action. This is much better than if you had the typical “bottom line” or deal-breaker where all negotiations would ultimately stop. This way, you are not in a fixed position and you can come up with these alternate solutions that you had prepared.
PS Inc. offers a wide variety of business consultant and customer relationship management services to help facilitate successful business collaboration. Contact us today to help you create strategic partnerships through business networking.