Negotiation for Project Managers (Part 1)

 

What is negotiation and why is it important for project managers? How is it even relevant to what we do as project managers?

Project managers, business leaders, peace treaty authors and even family members negotiate almost every day. Negotiation refers to the process of arriving at a desired outcome where two or more parties have differing opinions on an issue. "Negotiation" is probably the most prevalent yet least understood form of human interaction.

Why is it that some people enjoy and thrive in negotiations, while others do not? In this article, we will specifically focus on how negotiation is an integral part of a project environment. We will also examine some of the key skills that successful negotiators possess and help you make those skills "an integral part of you," rather than be a toolbox that ought to be opened only at times of need.

Negotiation in a Project Environment
In a project environment, different team members negotiate to meet different interests and reach desired outcomes. While project managers may negotiate on budgets, deadlines, scope, etc, technical leads may negotiate on the technical architectures, designs, etc. Business analysts may negotiate with their business partners on functional specifications, while business leaders may negotiate to get more for their money.

Considering that projects typically operate within constrained …

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