Topic 1.3.1 Techniques for Meetings and Negotiations
MEETING TECHNIQUES AND NEGOTIATIONS
Vocabulary 1
Practice exercise 1
Discussion
- Have you ever attended a meeting without a formal agenda? How did it affect the meeting’s outcome?
- Who is usually responsible for taking meeting minutes in your organization?
- Can you think of an example where a decision was delayed due to the lack of a quorum?
- Why might it be important to achieve a unanimous decision in some situations?
- How do you typically assign and track action items after a meeting?
- What challenges arise when delegating tasks to others?
- What strategies do you use to build consensus in a team with differing opinions?
- What are the key benefits of brainstorming sessions in a team environment?
Vocabulary 2
Practice exercise 2
Discussion questions
- What are some key negotiation tactics that can lead to a win-win outcome in a business deal?
- What are some personal conflict resolution techniques you use when you find yourself in an argument with friends or family?
- What negotiation tactics can you use in everyday situations, like asking for a discount or handling a disagreement with a friend?
- In personal arguments, how do you decide when to make a concession to avoid further conflict while still standing your ground?
Useful Expressions and Phrases
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Speaking activity
Get into 2 groups. Each participant/group represents one side of a negotiation with different interests and priorities. The goal is for both sides to practice negotiation tactics and reach a final agreement. Choose one or more of the following scenarios. Read your scenario and the interests you represent. Then have a 5–10-minute negotiation, using different tactics
- Scenario 1 Product Purchase
– Party A (Seller) You want to sell a product for $1,000 but can offer a discount or add bonuses.
– Party B (Buyer) You are willing to spend no more than $800 but want the best deal possible. You might consider extras like free shipping or an extended warranty.
- Scenario 2 Event Planning
– Party A (Event Organizer) You are planning an event with a set budget but want to secure the best venue and entertainment. You can offer future partnerships or promotions.
– Party B (Venue Owner) You want to rent out your venue at a specific price but can adjust for dates or offer additional services like catering.
- Scenario 3 Salary Negotiation
– Party A (Employee) You are negotiating for a salary increase and want a raise plus flexible work hours or more vacation days.
– Party B (Employer) You are trying to keep salary increases within the budget but can offer other benefits like professional development or bonus incentives.
Activity: Listen to the following video from the popular sitcom “The Office (US)” and answer the following questions:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-GFmH0EK9Y
- Is the first approach taken by the seller a good aproach in a negotiation? Would you have done anything different?
- What are the reasonings behind rejecting the $60.000 offer?
- Would you consider the overall negotiation good? Why?
Some Phrasal verbs useful in meetings:
Bring up: To mention or introduce a topic.
- “I’d like to bring up the issue of our declining sales figures.”
Look into: To investigate or examine something.
- “We’ll look into the possible causes of the problem.”
Come up with: To think of or produce something (an idea, a solution).
- “We need to come up with a new strategy for our marketing campaign.”
Go over: To review or discuss something in detail.
- “Let’s go over the agenda before we start the meeting.”
Follow up: To take further action after something has been discussed or planned.
- “I’ll follow up with an email summarizing our discussion.”
Set up: To arrange or organize something.
- “Can you set up a meeting with the marketing team?”
Run through: To rehearse or review something quickly.
- “Let’s run through the presentation one more time before the client arrives.”
Discussion: What is your opinion on most of the meetings you are part of in your job? If you could, would you change anything?