Influencing / Negotiating

Definition:  Persuades others. Builds consensus through give and take.  Gains cooperation from others to obtain information and accomplish goals.  Facilitates "win-win" situations.

Ideas for Developing this Competency: 

  • Volunteer to serve as a mediator in an organization at work or in the community.
  • Use informal networks to get things done.
  • Interview a successful labor negotiator, attorney, lobbyist, legislator, salesperson, or marketing representative to gain insight into how they operate.
  • Learn about interest-based bargaining, an approach that seeks to better understand the other side's views and works toward a win-win solution.
  • Develop a shadow assignment with a decision-maker and observe the skills that person uses to resolve conflict.
     
  • Use impact wheels to determine long-term implications of decisions.
     
  • Serve as a community mediator.
     
  • Read books such as: Getting to Yes or Getting Past No by William Ury and Resolving Conflicts at Work by Kenneth Cloke.
     
  • Serve on a negotiation team such as a collective bargaining team.
     
  • Serve as a union steward.