If you ever want to become financially free you need to learn how to negotiate. Negotiation is the key to everything, from getting a deal on apples at the supermarket to large real estate transactions. If you master this highly underrated skill you will have unlimited social ability; communication is vastly important in today’s society. Here are some tips that can bring you great success.

1. Never Try and Rip People Off

If you ever want repeat customers in business or have someone negotiate with you again, never rip people off. There are ethical ways to do business that pay off as well, if not better than compared to the “cut-throat” way some people conduct business. Nobody wants to deal with someone that rips people off; once you rip one person off word can quickly spread of your poor negotiations.

2. Try and Make a Win-Win Situation

A win-win situation is anytime both sides of a deal are happy. It’s not true that there is a winner and loser to every deal. You should always aim to make both sides of any agreement happy. A happy customer or partner is a repeating one and will have no problem spreading the word of what an excellent deal they have gotten from you.

3. Know and Remember Exactly What You Want

This sounds pretty basic but you have no idea how many people go into a deal for anything and have no idea what they even want out of the deal. Are you negotiating on a certain price for a product or service? What is that price? Have you ever gone into the grocery store without a list and come out with all sorts of foods except the one you went in there in the first place to get? This is an example of going in without a plan.

4. Shoot for a Great Deal

You will never get what you don’t ask for. Try not to insult someone when negotiating but don’t be afraid to ask for a great deal either. I wouldn’t hold my breath for the other person you are negotiating with to always give you a great deal. You will never get anything in life if you are not willing to ask.

5. Always Know How Much You’re Willing to Give Up

If you always know what you are willing to give up and what you aren’t, it’s harder to get burned on a deal. Try to be flexible, but at the same time you have to know when you are bending too much, making the deal unprofitable to yourself.

6. Don’t be Afraid to Say No or Walk Away

Not every deal and person you deal with is going to end up peachy. You should never feel obligated to make a deal. There is opportunity everywhere and others will always come along; never feel that you can’t say no or walk away from the table.

7. Watch Body Language

When communicating with people face to face it’s always great to read body language. Sometimes people try and mask their emotions but body language can tell you the true story on what a person is feeling. If you know this when you are negotiating it gives you a good idea where to start from and where you are able to take your deal.

8. Get What You Want the Most First

When you are negotiating always make it clear first what you want the most; you can always work out the details later. This way you will always be happier on how your deals turn out. If you always end up with the most important part of what you wanted to receive, how can you ever be unhappy with the deals you made?

9. The Handshake

Always shake hands! This sounds stupid and simple but it can make a big difference in a first impression. A firm, not too hard handshake is what you want! Nothing is worse than someone who gives out a limp hand or worse doesn’t shake hands at all.

10. Always be pleasant

Just be a pleasant person to deal with! Nobody wants to deal with an angry or whiny person, just be polite and understanding and you will always get more accomplished when making deals. Would you rather do business with someone that was upset all the time or someone pleasant? It’s not a hard choice to make.

Kelly Parks
www.wealthforinvestors.com