I must admit - when I first read Jeb’s article I had to suspend my judgement until I got further along in his piece. And then I understood the merits. Too often, I’ve been “the nice guy” and ended up feeling taken advantage of and the relationship goes south. Be patient and read. Here’s the big take-away for me "In sales negotiations, you cannot lose sight of the lifetime value of the relationships you’ve developed and nurtured." In other words, relationships matter and must be protected.” And that’s a two way street. Enjoy Jeb’s article!
Win-Win: Just Another Verse of Sales Kumbaya
People, especially salespeople and those who manage them, often use the phrase “win-win” and negotiation in the same breath. The concept of negotiating win-win outcomes certainly makes sense in diplomacy, arbitration, and conflict resolution.
“Win-win” is a noble concept. It’s nice when everyone wins. If both sides can walk away winners that’s a good thing. But win- win should not be your primary objective at the sales negotiation table, because as a sales professional, your objective is to win for your team.
Salespeople delude themselves into believing that everyone needs to win and that negotiated outcomes must be “fair and equitable.” “Win-win” makes sense. Fair and equitable is an easy concept to wrap your mind and emotions around. Read the rest of the article on SalesGravy!