6.1 Effective Communication

Any negotiation that you are a part of will require at least some form of communication, and so, it should come as no surprise that our success in negotiations will depend on having advanced communication skills. Not only will we need to listen carefully to understand the needs of the other party, but we will also have to figure out the best way to respond to reach an agreement that is mutually beneficial.

A skilled negotiator will know when to speak, when to listen, and even when to stop speaking or communicating. We can think of communication as the music that sets the tone for the dance and guides the dance. Just as the music influences the moves and the pace of the dance, effective communication will influence the direction and outcome of our negotiation. Effective communication skills are important for successful negotiations because they are critical in building relationships and trust across the parties.

When there is a trusting relationship between the parties, it is more likely that both parties will engage in honest and open communication, which can lead to more beneficial outcomes for all involved. Further, effective communication reduces misunderstandings and conflicts. Think about how many times we were involved in a conflict due to something as simple as a misunderstanding in our communication. Perceptions play an important role in how our messages are received, so the more effective and clear our communication, the more likely we are to have a productive and efficient negotiation. Finally, it is important to note that communication is one of those competencies that can always be improved through feedback, practice and ongoing reflection.

Image: OpenAI. (2024, July 9). ChatGPT. [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat

Prompt: Create an image of two people dancing together, where the dress is teal, and the background is removed. Save as PNG file.