How to bargain and negotiate

Bargaining and Negotiation goes hand in hand. Bargaining is the discussion about what the other side wants, Negotiation is a discussion about why they want it. Bargaining and Negotiation is not a dispute or a confrontation, it is about communicating well. It is an art.

Bargaining and Negotiation requires preparation. Prepare ahead of time and know exactly what you want. Negotiators have a tendency to negotiate from one of these styles: competitors, avoiding, accommodating, compromising, collaborating.
For negotiation and bargaining, First, it is important to swallow your fears, be firm, friendly and do not give in to or fear awkwardness.
Secondly, while initiating a bargain, take a polite, positive approach. Let your plan, budget and stance be known in truth. Keep your character intact and know when to be quiet to enable the other party speak. At this time, do not show any sign of eagerness. Ensure that the negotiation is framed in the right way. Listen to gather much information as possible from the other party, then, when under attack, implement persuasion as a function of listening.

When you have lots of points to negotiate, start with the easiest and end with the toughest. Sometimes, resolving easy issues create momentum. Do not be trapped by emotional techniques, the game of emotional blackmail such as the other party getting angry to rattle you into making concessions. It is a manipulative tactic.
Lastly, to haggle for a good bargain while bargaining and negotiating, definitely plan for the worst but always expect the best. Never give without taking (in a good way) and never set a range.
Commit to a solution once confirmed and certain that it would work for both parties. Often times, a better approach is to suggest hypothetical solutions but be prepared to walk away if necessary. Most importantly, time it right, the end of the day is a great time to get your haggle on.

In addition, there are certain skills needed in bargaining and negotiating such as essential communication skills to decipher verbal and nonverbal cues and to express one’s self in an engaging way. Other skills are active listening, emotional intelligence, patience, expectation management, adaptability, planning.