This Is When You Walk Away
Don’t compromise your happiness by settling for less.
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In our daily interactions with people, we negotiate all the time, whether we’re aware of it or not. Chris Voss, former FBI hostage negotiator once said:
“The most dangerous negotiation is the one you don’t know you’re in.”
Whether we’re discussing a business proposal, asking for a good salary or navigating the demands of our relationships, there’s always an element of negotiation going on.
So, it’s important for everyone to have basic negotiation skills. This increases our chances of getting what we want out of life; instead of settling for what other people want us to have, which is not always in our best interest.
But negotiations don’t have to result in a deal. Sometimes, it ends in a stalemate and people walk away without any agreement. Unfortunately, some people don’t realise this; they think there has to be a deal. As a result, they become desperate to make something happen, and end up accepting a bad deal, which they later regret.
The same thing happens in relationships when people put up with all sort of treatment just to keep things going. This is not healthy for anyone; sometimes, you just need to walk away.
The power of walking away
Understanding that you might have to walk away from a negotiation can be incredibly empowering. This implies that you know what you want and what you don’t want.
You want to be paid what you’re worth and won’t settle for less. You want a fair deal for all parties and not one that’ll hurt your business. You want healthy relationships, and definitely won’t let anyone walk all over you.
Having this mindset helps you detach emotionally from preconceived outcomes, stay calm and remain objective in your dealings. This naturally makes you confident; which is crucial in any negotiation.
