In an ever-changing world where disruptive technologies and processes pop up every day, academic knowledge and technical training alone are often not enough to produce excellent learning outcomes.
It’s important to equip students with skills to help them adapt, stay relevant and navigate the world better. In addition, empowering students with life skills can help them improve how they learn and interact with others. Therefore, you prepare them adequately for the future.
One such skill that can help transform the caliber of your students is mastering the art of negotiation. Today, we’ll talk about the key training techniques that can help mold your students into strong negotiators ready for their future goals.
Table of Contents
Thorough research
According to the advice of leading negotiation training, it’s critical to conduct thorough research before launching into a negotiation. The purpose of researching is to find out as much as possible about the other side and figure out their desired outcome. Once you have all the key information, you will be better placed to:
- think about ice breakers and small talk that can thaw any tensions and build relationships
- figure out what to offer them to get what you want in return
- determine how to talk to them in a way that can create mutual understanding
Teaching your students how to research will help them gather relevant information, analyze data critically, and become stronger negotiators. Once learners master how to research, they gain the skills to navigate relationships with peers, improving conflict resolution, teamwork, and collaboration.
Practicing these skills is vital, according to education specialists, since being able to communicate with members of their team with confidence and skill, can improve students’ learning and retention overall leading to greater success.
Knowing how to research can also help students develop greater analytical skills, which can trickle down into how they answer questions, resulting in better grades.
Flawless presentations
The best negotiators know how to present their case effectively. Teach your students how to improve and polish their presentations and shine at persuading audiences.
Consider coaching your students on how to present ideas in an impactful way by considering some of the following:
- Presentation structure. To get the structure right, it’s important to start by asking yourself the purpose of the presentation. Once you determine your objectives, you can put your points across to achieve your goals.
The best presentations typically start with a hook, such as a thought-provoking rhetorical question or metaphor. Once your audience is attentive, proceed to make your case and end with a strong conclusion.
- The tone. Some situations call for a calm and collected tone, while other presentations require the presenter to be hyped up. Train your students to use the right tone of voice for each situation.
- Body language. Using the right gestures and posture can influence the audience to respond better to what you have to say.
Once students know how to make presentations, they are better placed to successfully negotiate with peers, teachers, school administrators, and parents. For instance, they can ask for a raise on their allowances or lobby for new school activities.
Learners will also have a firm foundation for the future when they need to negotiate to get jobs or higher salaries in the workplace.
Listening skills
Knowing how to give a presentation is only one side of the coin. Top negotiators also know how to listen effectively. Consider empowering your students with techniques such as:
- Active listening. Train students on how to go beyond the surface to fully understand the situational context.
- Empathetic listening. This involves putting yourself in the other person’s shoes.
It’s also important for your students to learn how to give the other person the right feedback that shows they have received the message, such as paraphrasing and mirroring.
With sharp listening skills, your students can develop the ability to build meaningful relationships and forge social connections that can be the stepping stones to further their careers.
In addition, they are more likely to turn out as well-rounded individuals making a more balanced impact on society with less trolling, bullying, and negative socialization. Listening can also help them ace their school courses.
Creating positive learning outcomes
How you impart negotiation skills depends on the level and age of the students. Games and role-play exercises are often the best way to get learners up to speed.
You can simplify the games for younger children. For example, two children can act as if they are fighting for the same toy. You can then serve as a mediator to resolve the situation amicably.
For middle school and junior high learners, you can create debates or model UN games and give extra credit to motivate students.
If you teach high school or more mature students, tapping into real-world negotiation games designed for the business world can help boost their skills.
All in all, these techniques can positively impact your students not only in the way they negotiate but also improve their academics and socialization. In addition, learning these negotiation skills can help set your students up for future success.
