I use the term “conscious negotiation” because anytime we want to change an ingrained habit or mindset, it requires a commitment to being fully conscious of how we show up in every moment, so that old and ineffective patterns are held at bay.
Conscious negotiation is an all around approach. It’s a way of being that comes out in your interactions with others. When I’m coaching negotiation skills, I guide people to look within first, because it’s that critical inner work that strengthens them to show up consciously and intentionally. It’s doing the work to become your own unwavering rock in the storm.
Conscious negotiation is really a tool of conscious leadership. It’s a skill to be honed through practice and self-acceptance. I strongly recommend doing that inner work first to develop your inner leader. When you feel ready to embrace conscious negotiation, keep these three principles in mind as you move forward:
Be aware of your impact.
You cannot control people or circumstances. You can only control how you choose to show up. This will have an impact on your inner experience, and influence the world around you. Be aware of how you show up and commit to striving for a positive impact.
Focus on the big picture.
The big picture in a business negotiation includes organizational goals, your personal values and purpose, and the relationship you’re building with the other person or party. Hold that vision.
Commit to integrity.
Integrity means wholeness. If you compromise on what matters to you, act against your values, let your Gremlins take the wheel, make choices that feel inauthentic to you, you give away pieces of yourself. Like pulling bricks out of a building, it leads to a loss of structural integrity. Commit to staying whole.