Ten Reasons to Improve Your Negotiation Skills

Posted, perhaps, under the category of easier said than done...

1. Negotiation is part of the advocacy process. There is no question that once both sides agree on the educational, health, safety, physical, social, and emotional needs of the exceptional pupil, they MUST be met. But both sides may have different opinions as to how the needs should be met. So we don’t negotiate about which needs should be met (although priorities can be set), but rather HOW to meet them.

2. Choosing a negotiation strategy instead of an adversarial approach preserves relationships and builds trust. It is better to negotiate solutions than to leave matters in the hands of panels of arbitrators who don’t have first-hand knowledge of the student.

3. Negotiation ensures that both sides find common ground. As part of the process, you will be surprised to find out how many things you already agree on.

4. Negotiating solutions saves money because there is no need to hire expensive lawyers.

Now, on that last note, get along and read the rest of it.

* Courtesy of Karen Robinson, AFASE at School