HR professionals need to master a wide range of skills, with negotiation being crucial to many aspects of their job. Whether it’s during conflict resolution, the hiring process, policy implementation, union disputes, or training, effective negotiation is key.
Negotiation skills encompass various other soft skills like communication, problem-solving, and emotional intelligence. To become a master negotiator, one must excel in all these areas.
Let’s dive in
Communication
Communication skills are essential in HR negotiations. Having the ability to convey a message clearly and concisely prevents misunderstandings and ensures that all parties know the exact terms of an agreement.
To enhance communication skills, HR professionals should practice active listening, encourage feedback, learn to read non-verbal communication, work on their own body language, and speak clearly.
Coursera offers a great course on communication. You can also train this skill through role-play or watching YouTube videos posted by communication experts like Alexander Lyon and Vanessa Van Edwards.
Problem-Solving
The problem-solving skill is another essential part of negotiation. This skill will help you identify problems, find mutually acceptable solutions, and resolve conflicts.
The key to problem-solving is finding an outcome that satisfies the needs of everyone. This can be tricky at times but with some practice and the right training, it will start to come naturally to you.
Many courses, videos, books, and seminars can help you build this skill. However, a more hands-on and interactive approach can be highly beneficial.
A good problem solver uses many forms of thinking such as critical, analytical, creative, and logical. You can find many websites online that strengthen these skills and even provide simulations that allow you to practice your problem-solving.
Harvard Business Review and Lumosity are great training resources.
Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence or EI, is a skill that will take you far in negotiations.
EI is the ability to recognize, understand, manage, and use your emotions and those of others. It includes self-awareness, empathy, emotional regulation, and perception.
When you master the EI skill, you can understand each party’s point of view on a logical and emotional level. This is helpful in negotiation because it allows you to tailor your approach to address the needs and concerns of everyone involved without bias.
Improve your emotional intelligence by practicing mindfulness, seeking feedback, educating yourself on some basic psychology, and building diverse teams. Obsidi is a great resource for finding diverse talent.
Persuasion
What would negotiation be without persuasion? This invaluable skill is one of charisma and influence. It includes clear communication, appealing speech, and compelling ideas.
Some say that persuasion is more of an art than a skill because it requires a delicate mix of intuitive understanding and creativity. Luckily, just like any other art form, it can be mastered with enough practice.
Role playing is typically the primary way a person practices persuasion but before you give it a go, you may want to educate yourself on strategies and techniques. You can find countless training books and videos online that will help you develop this skill.
Patience
Patience is in fact a virtue, especially in negotiations. Depending on the circumstances, a negotiation can take anywhere from minutes to years! Of course, that is not the only way patience plays a role in a negotiation.
Patience helps you avoid making impulsive decisions, use active listening, understand different perspectives, and thoroughly work through complex issues.
By taking the time to review every aspect of a concern, you can address each topic with understanding and collaboration.
Negotiating with patience leads to more favorable outcomes and satisfied parties.
Enhance this skill by setting realistic timelines, practicing self-control and mindfulness, and shifting your focus toward listening as opposed to responding.
Assertiveness
So far we have discussed many negotiation skills that focus on being empathetic, patient, and compelling. So, it might feel odd to throw assertiveness into the mix. However, it’s important to understand that it may be one of the most useful skills of them all.
When you know how to be assertive in an appropriate manner, you can clearly communicate your needs and boundaries without frustration. This skill helps you set expectations and stand your ground while simultaneously advocating for all parties respectfully.
To develop this skill, you must build your confidence, understand situational boundaries, use self-reflection to determine your weak points, and practice using “I” statements.
For many individuals, being assertive is easier in your head than in real-life situations. If that is the case for you, consider role-playing exercises, assertiveness training, and self-help books that focus on the topic.
