How to Review After a Negotiation for Better Results

After a negotiation, it's important to take time to review what happened. This helps us improve our skills for next time. Here are some easy ways to guide this review process:

1. Reflect on What Happened

Think back on the negotiation. Ask yourself these questions:

• What were the main goals?
• Did we achieve those goals? If not, why?
• What strategies worked well?
• Were there any surprises?

Writing down your thoughts can help you remember what happened and prepare for future negotiations.

2. Use Simple Measurements

Looking at numbers can help you see how well you did. Here are some easy ways to measure your negotiation:

• BATNA Check: Compare your Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement (BATNA) with the result. Many negotiators, about 75%, don't think enough about their BATNA.
• Value Created: See the difference between the first offers and the final agreement. Good negotiators can add $10,000 to$30,000 in value with the right techniques.
• Satisfaction Level: After the negotiation, ask both sides to rate their satisfaction on a scale from 1 to 5. Research suggests that over 60% of negotiators are happier and more successful if both sides feel satisfied.

3. Have a Post-Negotiation Meeting

Bring everyone involved together for a meeting. This helps you look at the negotiation from all angles. Talk about:

• What went well and what didn’t? Why?
• Did everyone understand their interests and create good options?
• How well did communication flow during the negotiation?

Hearing different opinions can help everyone understand better and find new ways to succeed next time.

4. Keep Learning

Make sure to keep improving your skills by continuing to learn. Attend workshops or seminars on negotiation techniques. A report from 2020 found that people who keep learning can improve their negotiation results by about 20%.

5. Write Down What You Learned

Create a collection of lessons from each negotiation you have. This should include:

• Tactics that worked
• Mistakes to avoid
• Insights from the other side

Studies show that 80% of negotiators see better results when they use lessons learned from previous experiences.

By following these steps, you can effectively review what happened after a negotiation. This will help you improve your skills and get better results in future negotiations!