What's Your Negotiating Rationale?

What's Your Negotiating Rationale? When asked, most people could not identify or describe their negotiating rationale. Some might even respond that they don't have one. Oh yes, they do. We all do. Unless specifically selected from a list of possibilities, we adopt a rationale by default. We just gravitated to one accidently. The problem is that our default rationale might not be the best forus, the most effective for our negotiating situations or the one compatible with our style. There are four (4) negotiating rationales to choose from.
1. Accommodation: Our rationale here is that we want to give up things so others can have them. It could be summarized as: I lose, you win. We all know accommodators. We've even been them, at least in certain situations (especially with our kids). Can we agree in a serious negotiation, this isn't our best choice?
2. Persuasion: This rationale is when we are super aggressive and strongly focused on trying to influence our negotiating opponent to do or see things our way. Call it: I win, you lose. Here we pullout all the stops. We leverage every power source available andmuster our most influential language to get the other side to yield. To some, this sounds wonderful. But consider, if you have to live a long time with this opponent or ever have to negotiate with them again, problems become inevitable. Another bad choice.
3. Compromise: Here's where many will drop their anchor and say,"Yes, I like this one." But wait, isn't compromise when both sides are required to give up something? Couldn't this be called: I lose, you lose? We've all experienced this one too. It has become the default rationale of many. The only (significant) downside is that both end up 'losing'!
4. Partnering: Most haven't heard of or considered this one. It's more of a collaborative rationale where our goal is: I win, you win. Now that you have heard of. Can you think of a reason why you wouldn't want all your negotiations to end with both sides feeling like winners? Let's face it, this should be our selection!
Epilogue: Can't leave this discussion without admitting that we don't live in a perfect world where everything fits into a neatcategory. There's no way every negotiation can be restricted to just a 'partnering' rationale.
* Most good negotiators use a combination...and so should you. Aren't there times you want to be persuasive? Should you be accommodating here and there? And, finally, don't we all have togive us something small (compromise) to gain something big (partnering).
**The message is...diversify and don't get caught using but one rationale, especially if it isn't the best one for you and your negotiating circumstances.

$8000 tax credit to first time home buyers - Government Stimulus Plan

As part of the "American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009," the bill referenced was signed into law on February 17, 2009. With this new tax credit, there is no repayment required. Here are some of the specifics of the new bill:
--Amount: $8,000 tax credit, or 10% of the home's value, whichever is less - on buyer's 2008 or 2009 taxes.
--For Whom: 1st time home buyers (A 1st time home buyer is defined as someone who has not owned a property in the last 3 years).
--Time Frame: Purchase between 1-1-09 and 11-30-09
--Repayment: No repayment required as long as you live in the home 3 years, or more.
--Property Taxes: For principle residence only - single family residence, condo or townhouse.
--Income Requirements: Maximum $75,000 for single buyer, and $150,000 for a married couple.
--Claiming the Credit: The credit will be claimed on a tax return to reduce the purchaser's income tax liability. If any credit amount remains unused, then the unused amount will be refunded as a check to the purchaser.

As always...please email or call either of us anytime for further details.