As you recover from the holiday season, you'll probably decide to make a few New Year's resolutions, in your personal life and for your business. We thought you might like to consider one of these five as an option for your new year's resolutions for 2016, just in case you partied a little too hard and are having trouble making good decisions...
1. I won't just complain, I'll propose a remedy.
No more being annoyed munching through an overcooked charcoal-encrusted steak when you ordered medium rare… Instead I will politely explain the problem to the waiter (without making it personal) and propose that if they can bring a medium rare steak out pronto and include a complimentary cheese platter for the table, you'll not only consider that the end of the matter, you'll stay for coffee and be happy to come back to the restaurant next time. How does that sound?
2. I'll talk less and listen more.
Enough said.
3. I'll make sure I don't become a negotiating pain in the neck.
I'll recognise that not everything is a negotiation. I will gladly and consciously give things away to my family, my friends and my work colleagues (especially at this time of year) and even sometimes my business colleagues - but I won't do it as part of a commercial negotiation, and I won't do it to build a relationship or to "put money in the piggy bank for later".
4. I will recognise a good deal when it's in front of me and take it.
I won't try to get the perfect deal, I'll aim for a good deal that the other side is comfortable enough to follow through on, and move on to the next deal and save both sides time and frustration.
5. I'll practice regularly to keep my skills fresh.
I'll recognise that I negotiate many times every day. If I’ve done the Scotwork course I'll pick something else from my leather organiser and practice one thing that I want to do differently, and try it every day. (You might even consider a refresher program).
Simon Letchford