https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="⚡️" title="Hochspannungszeichen" aria-label="Emoji: Hochspannungszeichen">24 pro-tips for negotiating product decisions

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1/ Focus on problems, not people

Avoid “us vs them” situations.
2/ It’s not zero-sum

Focus on the best result for everyone.

Especially with topics like compensation.
3/ Aim to understand

Do listen & empathize.

Don’t judge and debate.
4/ Build personas for key stakeholders

Invest in long-term relationships.

You& #39;ll better understand their mindset and expectations.
5/ Repeat back

Repeat back what others say to show you understand.
6/ Avoid blaming

It leads to defensiveness.

It& #39;s a downward spiral of emotional ego-protecting.
7/ If there’s tension, call it out

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="📜" title="Schriftrolle" aria-label="Emoji: Schriftrolle"> Here& #39;s a template:

“I sense some tension here and I’m hopeful we& #39;ll get through this as a team. I’m feeling […] — I’d love to hear what you’re feeling and thinking about.”
8/ Avoid the past tense

Past actions can& #39;t be changed.

Arguments in the past tense are more likely to dissolve into blaming and emotions.

Use present and future tense instead.
9/ Involve people early

To avoid surprises, involve people early on big decisions like org changes or performance problems.
10/ Involve people before minds are made up

It& #39;s easier to help people make up their mind. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🧠" title="Gehirn" aria-label="Emoji: Gehirn">

It’s harder to change minds.
11/ Provide off-ramps for ego

Changing a decision that& #39;s already made often involves egos. Provide good reasons for the change that lets people save face.
12/ Some good books

On becoming a better negotiator & persuader.

• Difficult Conversations by Douglas Stone
• Thank You for Arguing by Jay Heinrichs
• Getting to Yes by Roger Fisher
13/ Understand their real interest

Positions = what people say they want.
Interests = true reasons for their wants.
14/ Create win-win opportunities

With everyone& #39;s real interests in mind, we can seek opportunities that satisfy them all at once.
15/ Generate options that work for everyone

Break down the problem into smaller "solution-options".
Figure out which ones best solve everyone& #39;s interests.
16/ Common product areas to invent options

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔭" title="Teleskop" aria-label="Emoji: Teleskop"> Scope
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👁️" title="Auge" aria-label="Emoji: Auge"> Visibility
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="⏱️" title="Stoppuhr" aria-label="Emoji: Stoppuhr"> Duration
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="📝" title="Memo" aria-label="Emoji: Memo"> Reporting
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="📈" title="Tabelle mit Aufwärtstrend" aria-label="Emoji: Tabelle mit Aufwärtstrend"> Scalability
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="💪" title="Angespannter Bizeps" aria-label="Emoji: Angespannter Bizeps"> Performance
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="⚖️" title="Waage" aria-label="Emoji: Waage"> Risk Sensibility
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🎨" title="Farbpalette" aria-label="Emoji: Farbpalette"> Customization vs pre-made UI components
17/ Useful methods for generating options

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="⛅️" title="Sonne hinter einer Wolke" aria-label="Emoji: Sonne hinter einer Wolke"> Brainstorm in the morning (everyone& #39;s fresh)
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🖍️" title="Buntstift unten links" aria-label="Emoji: Buntstift unten links"> Whiteboard and break down the problem
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="❤️" title="Rotes Herz" aria-label="Emoji: Rotes Herz"> Ask each side what matters most to them
18/ Use objective criteria

Avoid arbitrary starting points.

The anchoring effect activates and blinds you from whether the final result is objectively fair.
19/ Start with external data

Specific data reduces opposition.

Use a value from an external source to guide the negotiating.
20/ Objective criteria is reusable

It& #39;s future-proof https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔮" title="Kristallkugel" aria-label="Emoji: Kristallkugel">
Agree on it once, use it again.
Saves you time.
21/ Be flexible as new data immerges

You adjust to objective data.
Not the other way around.
22/ Lose lesser battles

You don& #39;t have to win every argument https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="⚔️" title="Gekreuzte Schwerter" aria-label="Emoji: Gekreuzte Schwerter">

Give in on things that don& #39;t matter as much to you but matters a lot to the other person.

It builds good will.
23/ Have thick skin

You won& #39;t always get your way.
Don& #39;t be a sore loser https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🤕" title="Gesicht mit Kopfbandage" aria-label="Emoji: Gesicht mit Kopfbandage">
Focus long term.
24/ Negotiate

Now you have:

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="❤️" title="Rotes Herz" aria-label="Emoji: Rotes Herz"> Understanding of everyone& #39;s interests
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="📏" title="Gerades Lineal" aria-label="Emoji: Gerades Lineal"> Agreed-upon objective data
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🧠" title="Gehirn" aria-label="Emoji: Gehirn"> Aligned incentives

Making decisions will be easier now.

/end
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