3 reasons (and a story) to collaborate to win
Posted by: Jens Thang in Business Negotiation, Contract Negotiation, Cultural Negotiation, Debt Negotiation, Others, Salary Negotiation, Sales Negotiation
Here’s the story:
There is a blind man and a lame man. They often compete against each other to see who’s better in what. One day, their deaf friend got so sick of their competition and came up with an idea.
“Let me be the judge. Whoever gets to my place first, will be the winner.”
The blind man and lame man were both set to win this competition. However, the deaf man stays 10 miles away from them. For many weeks, they brainstormed on how to get to their deaf friend. The blind man won’t be able to see the road and the lame man won’t be able to walk.
A brilliant idea struck them!
The lame man will get on the shoulders of the blind man. They collaborated! The blind man will be the lame man’s legs. And the lame man will be the blind man’s eyes. How wonderful! They were so happy and they got on their way.
As you are able to guess, both are winners. Win-Win!
Collaboration is indeed more powerful than competition.
What are the reasons to collaborate?
1) Improve relationships
It is really hard (near impossible) to main positive feelings about anyone who is trying to make you lose. Arguments and negotiation impasse are often the results from competition mindset.
By collaborating, the challenge and success are shared. At the end, its the relationship that really counts.
2) Sharing of expertise
If we often compete to win in a negotiation, we will overlook many aspects of collaboration. On such aspect is the sharing of expertise. Everyone is interdependent. In business, you depend on your partner. In your family, you depend on your family members. In work place, you depend on your colleagues.
Competition makes it real hard to share our resources, skills and experiences. We are so involved in our own exclusive goal.
In a negotiation, every person’s role is important. So why not collaborate?
3) Well-being
Negotiations are highly stressful. Many things are at stakes. The fear of failure is the reason for this anxiety and agitation. It causes tension, embarrassment and even hostility.
Good collaborations happens when there’s a good relationship. A relationship that is non-judgmental and non-threatening.
This in turn creates an environment that is healthy for both parties.
REMEMBER: Always collaborate to win.
—————–
Jens Thang
Negotiation Skills for Everyone
Email: jens@thenegotiationguru.com
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February 15th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
[…] Competition creates value. Whenever there is competition for something that you have, the value of that thing (can be anything) will increase. With competition, the thing which you have becomes much more desirable and valuable. […]