Tips for negotiating
When you are ready to start negotiating, you can contact the other party. Remember to stay calm, keep a record of all your contact and don't give up if it gets tough.
Understand your emotions
You may feel angry, hurt, upset or anxious. This is normal and understandable. When you are negotiating, consider these tips:
- Try not to speak angrily.
- Use calm language.
- Try not to criticise the other party as this may make it harder to reach agreement.
- Try not to get angry with the other party, and instead focus on resolving the problem.
- Be prepared to listen to the other side, as you will want them to listen to you.
- Ask questions if you do not understand something, or you are not sure if you have understood.
If you are having trouble negotiating, you could try to:
- negotiate in writing if you feel like you cannot talk face to face or over the telephone
- give yourself time to write letters or emails or texts
- get someone else to check your letters or emails or texts before you send them
- prepare notes to take with you to a meeting so you stay on track
- take a support person with you to a meeting
- ask for a break if you are feeling upset in a meeting or during a phone call.
Keep records
It is a good idea to keep records of:
- conversations
- letters, emails or texts
- dates, times and locations of any telephone calls or meetings.
If you and the other party misunderstand each other or disagree on something that was discussed, it is helpful to have a written record of what happened.
Don't give up
You will probably need more than one phone call, letter, or meeting to reach an agreement. If it looks like you are close to an agreement, don't give up.
If you have not received a reply from the other party, follow up a phone conversation or a meeting with a letter or email.
If you are offered something you have not thought of before and you want time to think about the option, tell the other party and agree on a time when to have the next meeting.
If you are negotiating with a business about a debt, for example a bank, credit union, debt collector, collection agency or insurance company, you can make an offer to pay a lesser amount. The business may agree to accept a lesser amount to settle the dispute quickly and cheaply.