1. Collect information
When the stakes are high, you must overcome the common tendency to spend too much time looking in the mirror, admiring virtues and fretting over flaws. Negotiators get into trouble when they lack information about the other players in the game. For this reason, seek out as much relevant, high-quality information about the other side as you can, and use that information to your advantage.
2. Consider the opposite
One of the best ways to correct the biases in your judgment is to think of reasons why your initial guesses could be wrong. In particular, consider the possibility that the opposite of your assumption is true. Suppose that you are negotiating with a prospective employer and you suspect that the employer is meeting with many other strong job candidates.
3. Find a devil's advocate
Before and during a negotiation, ask others within your organization to question you about your approach and assumptions. If you're the boss, this technique may be politically awkward; your subordinates won't want to tell you that you're wrong. Yet good negotiators base their decisions on high-quality information, not the information that makes them feel good.
4. Don't be afraid to ask
Many people find negotiation stressful and avoid it whenever possible. The fear of not knowing what to say may lead you to assume that you won't get what you want from the process. Note that this prediction rests on the parallel assumption that your negotiating counterpart is an avid, expert bargainer. In fact, it's just as likely that your counterpart is as nervous as you are. Don't let negotiation opportunities pass you by.
