Have you ever been told you’re a peacemaker? Maybe you’ve noticed you tend to be the friend who stays out of everyone’s drama, or maybe you have a talent for fostering harmony between very different people.
If this sounds like you, you might consider becoming a high conflict negotiation coach. These coaches are experts at helping two opposing parties find common ground. They defuse tension, encourage positive and productive conversations, and help empower people to navigate disputes with confidence, clarity, and kindness. With contention and narcissism on the rise in our society, high conflict negotiations are in higher demand than ever.
Whether you’re already on your way to becoming a high conflict negotiation coach or you’re considering setting foot on the career path, there are certain things you can do to improve yourself. Here are seven ways to level up your negotiation skills and become a master negotiator.
1. Have a Winning Mindset
Henry Ford once said, “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you are right.” If you don’t have a winning mindset going into high conflict negotiation coaching, then you won’t succeed—and neither will your clients.
Walk into every situation with the confidence that you can make a difference. This mindset will make it easier to instill the same philosophy in your clients. They’ll take their cues from you.
2. Identify Your Client’s Goals
Conflict resolution sessions must be so much more than simply venting sessions. You must learn how to ask good questions to understand your client’s goals. That way, you can help guide them toward a positive resolution.
A client may walk into a session fuming, but you can ask constructive questions to help them get to a better place. You might ask questions like, “What do you want to achieve in your associations with this person?” “What are you willing to give up to achieve this?” “What are you not willing to give up?”
The quicker you can understand a person’s ultimate goals, the quicker you can help them achieve them.
3. Practice Active Listening
Listening to someone is one thing, but actively listening is another. Active listening involves several details, including paying attention to body language and verbal cues and showing the person that you are listening.
Start practicing by maintaining eye contact and listening intently. When the person has finished speaking, paraphrase what they said and ask, “Did I get that right? Is there anything I’m missing?”
Active listening isn’t just a skill that will come in handy for your clients—it’s crucial for understanding both parties better.
4. Learn to Think Up Creative Solutions
The best high conflict negotiation coaches are creative. That doesn’t mean they love painting, sculpting, or baking—it means they can think outside the box to come up with unique solutions to problems.
Sometimes, when two parties don’t agree, it can seem impossible to find a solution that works for everyone. But when you practice devising clever solutions, you can be the catalyst for a breakthrough in a disagreement.
5. Practice Adjusting to Different Communication Styles
Everyone communicates differently. Different communication styles can clash with each other and create conflict. When you as the negotiator learn to recognize different communication styles, you can bridge the gap between two parties and help them understand each other better. Sometimes, resolving the differences in communication styles is all it takes to resolve a high conflict situation.
6. Master Essential Skills
There are certain skills you’ll need to master if you want to become a successful high conflict negotiation coach.
Patience and attention to detail are crucial for gaining a complete understanding of each party’s stance. You’ll also need to learn how to put aside your preconceived biases to become fully impartial. Displaying empathy and understanding will help foster a positive mindset during negotiations.
Perhaps most importantly, you’ll need to learn to recognize manipulative tactics and not let yourself be swayed by them. You’ll likely come across narcissists and other high conflict individuals in your negotiations. Preparing for these situations by studying narcissism can help you protect yourself and other parties from falling prey to a narcissist’s mind games.
7. Get Certified
Taking a course from a specialist is the best way to become a successful, proficient high conflict negotiation coach. A certification course will give you tips, tricks, and blueprints for working through conflict with the most difficult personalities.
Also, earning a negotiation certificate will show your clients that you know what you’re doing. It will also help them trust you to find solutions and resolve their differences.
Becoming a Master Negotiator
You can become a high conflict negotiation coach either for a side hustle or a full-time career. It’s high-demand, exciting, and incredibly rewarding. In a world of conflict, you can help people achieve greater peace with others and themselves.
Infographic
Whether you’re already on your path to becoming a high-conflict negotiation coach or just considering it, there are several ways to sharpen your skills. Check out this infographic to uncover seven effective strategies for enhancing your negotiation abilities and mastering the art of negotiation.
