It strikes me that both lawyers and clients get so wrapped up in the business, legal and technical issues of a deal or situation that they often forget what I will refer to as “the laws of human nature.” True, these are not the laws I studied in law school, but I can tell you this – failure to understand these laws can often result in the failure of a deal. And what’s so sad about that is it’s completely avoidable in most circumstances.
So what do I mean when I talk about the laws of human nature? Obviously, I’m not talking about statutes or regulations. Simply put, I mean those aspects of the deal-making process that have more to do with human behavior, values, interaction and communication than with the specific parameters of the deal. Failure to understand these “laws” and acknowledge the fact that they fundamentally affect business transactions is just as often the cause of a failed deal as the laws on the books.
So, here are 10 lessons I’ve learned as to these laws:
1. It’s important to know what you AND the other party to the negotiations need, what you want, and what you’ll accept – and how these may change during the course of negotiations.
2. Nobody needs to “win” a negotiation – the best deals are win-win
3. It’s ok (and in fact, it’s often productive) for the other side to like you.
4. It is imperative that the other side respect and trust you.
5. Emotion is rarely productive in a business discussion.
6. Professionalism enhances the likelihood of success.
7. There’s no value in frustrating or embarrassing the other party or wasting their time.
8. It’s important to know when you’ve pushed far enough.
9. Miscommunication leads to failure just as often as disagreement.
10. The deal is never final until it’s signed.
Consider the laws of human nature the next time you negotiate a business deal, and I’m confident you will enhance your prospects for success.
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