Negotiations are a part of many of our businesses—we might have to negotiate for contracts or to try to make sales, or we may find ourselves negotiating with a colleague or vendor. Despite the best intentions or even if we are rather skilled in the negotiation department, there are going to be those time when we just cannot reach an agreement with the other party…
We have all been there—you have talked and talked and tried to find common ground and come to a mutually satisfactory agreement and there are just deal-breakers; those hurdles that cannot seem to be cleared. It does not have to be the end of the world and I do think there are ways to salvage working relationships even if an agreement cannot be reached.
If you have exhausted your negotiation tactics and really talked through all the things that both parties want and need to happen, I think it helps to agree to take a day or two to ruminate. Sometimes, a solution will come to you once you have stepped away from the table. If you still cannot reach agreement, then it is best to use tact and grace to abandon the negotiation. Find a way to keep the doors open, however: “I am sorry that we cannot work together on this project, but I hope you will keep me in mind in the future. I think we could be great partners in the right situation.” It can be very simple, but show the other party that you are harboring no animosity and that you are definitely open to continuing the working relationship even if you cannot agree on working together right now.
You might be surprised how many failed negotiations and lost sales eventually come back around to you if you continue to cultivate the relationship and are able to keep the lines of communication open. Sometimes, we just have to agree that an agreement cannot be reached, and walk away—gracefully and professionally.
Also: Know What You are Willing to Give Up in Negotiations
Finding Things You CAN Agree On