Reading - Trump Style Negotiation

This book caught my eye when I was browsing around the Times bookstore near my office. (I should just sign up for their membership, since I buy so much stuff from there all the time.) There are plenty of negotiation books out there, to be honest. However, I found this book to be interesting because it contains many examples of how certain deals were formed, rather than simply quoting principles after principles.

Some things I've learnt. 

One, I think I'm far far far away from being anything close to being able to handle a decent negotiation. This is clearly uncharted waters, and I hardly can even begin to visualise how the different strategies can be used. 

Second, personality and communication techniques are key in one's negotiation arsenal. While it is true that the two negotiating individuals are but vehicles through which the interests of the two sides meet and gets resolved, the battle essentially takes place between the two people. Personality and communication techniques can create distortionary perceptions of the actual interests, powers of the parties involved. A skilled negotiator needs to know when to build trust, when to coerce, when to walk away and so forth, while knowing when the other side is pulling a fast one. (This is really exciting stuff - it is a testing ground of all the personal skills that one can possibly think of, all put together.)

Third, research and attention to details (sounds like civil service speak) are crucial. One can hardly afford to be lazy, especially when putting up complex deals. 

Fourth, then there are all the tactical means to gain ground and to close the deal. These are the oft-heard strategies in many of the other materials out there - start out with a ridiculous offer, nibble at your opponent, smoke them by giving concessions on red herrings (after having fought a life or death battle for them) and then asking for similar concessions on issues really important to one.

Lastly (I really like this one), negotiation, at the end of the day, is about creating win-win situations that both parties can be satisfied with. There is little to be gained from winning a single deal by completely demolishing one's opponent and sacrificing your reputation in the process. 

Man ... all these sound like alien language to me. This is definitely one of those things that I don't think I can learn without stepping out of my comfort zone. Maybe I shall try an impossible negotiation to bring down the price of my McSpicy meal tomorrow. 

Blowing off the dust

It must have been eons since I last wrote anything in this blog. Looking back at the old posts, it feels kinda surreal. It's like the current me listening to the old me, different selfs (now I've gone through more of life ... weathered maybe!) but yet still very much the same person who's punching the letters the keyboard. It's as if there's a "me-me" self who exists and where my will resides, and there's a "constructed-me" self that is shaped by experiences and is in turn shaped by myself. (This must be the driest introduction I've ever written in my blog. I blame it on the lack of practice!)

In any case, I've found some more reason to write again. Met a friend recently who fanatically keeps a blog on what she'd read, so that she'd be forced to digest and understand the contents of her books diligently. What's more, this is a free method to save one's writings.

So, inspired by my friend's blog (or more like stealing her idea), here's going to be my first post in (what!) 2 years.  A side-track - having time to read nowadays is a luxury. It feels almost like I'm doing something shameful - I have to sneak in my reading time here and there, in the nooks and crannies between my appointments, my work and such. Life's tough eh.

And I guess the same will go for my blog writing as well :( 
I need more nooks and crannies! Haha.