Focus on interests, not positions
In such a case, negotiators need to distinguish between interests and positions and focus on interests not positions. A position is what you want or must have. An interest is why you want what you want. Positions can be thought of as a one-dimensional point in a space of infinite possible solutions. Positions are symbolic representations of a participant’s underlying motivating interests. In negotiation, there are many kinds of interests: multiple interests, shared interests, compatible interests and conflicting interests. Indentifying shared and compatible
interests as “common ground” can be helpful in establishing a found for additional discussions. “Easy points of agreement” can be indentified and the principles underlying those easy points of agreement can often be extrapolated to help
resolve other issues. Methods for focusing on interests instead of positions are as follows:
A. Identify the self-interests.
● Explore and recognize the interests of the other party that stand in your way.
● Examine the different interests of different people on the other side.
● Respect your counterparty as human beings and recognize the needs and interests that underlie their positions. B. Discuss interests with the other party.
● Give your interests a vivid description. Be specific.
● Demonstrate your understanding of the other party’s interests and acknowledge them as part of the overall problem
that you are trying to solve.
● Discuss the problems before proposing a solution.
● Direct the discussion to the present and the future. Stay away from the difficulties of the past.
● Be hard on the problem but soft on the people.
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