With my time schedule, it was more
feasible for me to review a few negotiation videos than to interview someone in
my field. This isn’t something that I’m happy about, because the experience
would be great, but it was a sacrifice that I’ve had to make with the
opportunities coming my way. I have actually been able to step foot into my
field over the past few months, so that takes up all of my time outside of the
job I get paid for, but I’m working toward exactly what it is I’m in school
for.
Right now, the focus is
negotiation. The videos that I watched talk about the BATNA, one focused on
getting what it was that you wanted in the first place, and the other was on
conflict and issues within a negotiation. Each video was very informative, and
I’d recommend them for learning tidbits about negotiation, especially if you’re
a rookie, like myself.
The first video I watched was from
the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Margaret Neale presented Negotiation: Getting What
You Want. The video did seem to be directed toward women as I watched
further and further, but she made a great point. She spoke on how to obtain
what it is you’re going to a negotiation for, and how to get it effectively.
She then went on to speak on how women negotiate for more than just themselves,
so we tend to show great results. She was a great watch and taught me that I should negotiate not only for myself but
for others or things that effect me (without too much emotion, of course).
The next video I watched was BATNA – Future Salon
presented by Stephen Stuart. Mr. Stuart explained the importance of a best
alternative, and even spoke on emotion. He gave examples through war and
advised that one shouldn’t accept less than their best alternative. I think
that is the most important thing that I’ve learned from this video. Taking less
than your BATNA, which is already settling for something other than what you
initially went into the negotiation for, you are settling completely.
The final video that I watched was
Thomas Kilmann on Handling
Conflict in Negotiations. This video, as stated in the caption, speaks on
separating the people from the problem. It spoke on not settling for a deal
because you want one with this particular party, and also not rushing through
deals because of time constraints or any other reason. He explained that it is
important to get through a deal with sound timing and a sound mind, as it calls
for a better result. Both of these things are very important lessons for me as
I don’t like to waste time, so I like to be in and out when it comes to doing
things, and I also put emotion into certain things. I’m very mild-mannered and
hard to be read for the most part, but sometimes I can put emotion into things
and I know that that is possibly a downfall in negotiating, now.
