Topic 1: What is Conciliating and negotiating

 “Negotiation” –  bargaining process between two or more parties seeking to discover a common ground and reach an agreement to settle a matter of mutual concern or resolve a conflict. Before a negotiation, each party should consult a lawyer. Consulting a lawyer allows each party to be well aware of their rights and duties for the matter they want to resolve. Mediation is a process where a neutral person assists the parties in discussing the matter and reaching a resolution.​

Our professional and personal lives might well be more satisfying and successful if we could only improve our negotiation skills. What do we mean by negotiation? ​

Dictionary definitions of the concept include: ​

• to confer with another or others in order to come to terms or reach an agreement ​
• mutual discussion and arrangement of the terms of a transaction or agreement ​
• to settle by discussion and bargaining.

Other terms for negotiation include haggling, bargaining, making deals, transacting, higgling, dickering and horse-trading. ​

Everyone negotiates in all kinds of situations. ​

A child tries to convince a parent to buy sweets in the supermarket. ​

You try to persuade your flatmate to do the dishes, even though it is your turn, so you can go out. ​

A union representative sits down with management for an annual review of wages and conditions. ​

You are running late on an assignment and are thinking of approaching your lecturer for an extension. ​

You are thinking of trading in a car and upgrading to a better one.​

A mother tries to get her young daughter to eat her vegetables or clean up her room. ​

Friends try to decide which movie they will see tonight. ​

An employee asks for a raise in salary. ​

A consumer tries to get a better deal on a refrigerator from a salesperson. ​

New acquaintances try to determine whether they will become friends or lovers. ​

The representatives of two countries sit down to discuss border tensions and the threat of war. All of these situations, along with countless others, involve negotiation. Negotiation is a communication and problem-solving process built on a broad foundation of skills and knowledge. It is also one of the most popular and effective means of resolving conflicts and misunderstandings

“Conciliation” – process where a commissioner meets with parties in a dispute and explores ways to settle it by agreement.​

Conciliation helps different parties to negotiate a settlement by:​

identifying issues and understanding the facts and circumstances discussing problems understanding needs of the parties reaching a mutually acceptable agreement