Mentally prepare the departure negotiation: important and yet often neglected

departure negotiation

Mentally prepare the departure negotiation: important and yet often neglected

Stated as is, it can appear obvious to prepare the negotiations steps. Yet, a good number of persons leaving a company don’t take good enough care of this either because we’re going too fast to end a painful & stressful process or simply because they rely on their employer to make it smooth.

But both parties must find an interest into “making it smooth” and invest energy in it. Most often than not, this process can turn into a fight through a legal battle if those interests are divergent if not opposite.

The mentally well-prepared departing manager gives himself a better prospect by:

  • Stepping back from the negotiation
  • Managing time
  • Controlling his emotions
  • Getting to show convictions
  • Showing his mental strength
  • Appraising the other negotiating party’s mental strength
  • Getting rid of nuisance sources
  • Relying on a third party
  • Treating the negotiation as something in which you excel

Coaching

Stepping back from the negotiation:

A negotiation can be handled, won or lost only on psychological aspects without discussing the heart of the matter at all!

If only your feelings guide you and the challenges at hand, although real, freeze you, then it will be difficult to handle this negotiation at best and hit your objectives.

Managing time:

These negotiations are always too long … or too short! For example, to imagine that the process will last between 2 and 3 months is a reasonable view. If it’s less, fine! At least, you know it may take time. For as long as your counterpart is willing to discuss with you, there is always room for negotiation even he states the contrary!

Control your emotions:

Not easy. Yet necessary. Don’t take your counterpart’s opinions, attitudes or maneuvers as personal questioning against who you are. They’re here to destabilize you, we’ll learn to manager them.

Built and show your convictions:

This can be considered as a game, that the matter is not your skills and there is necessarily a solution. Building these certainties will change your internal position and this will show.

Show your mental strength:

Not only from the previous point but also from your appearance including how you dress, how you sit, your gestures and your calm. Do some sport, take some fresh air!

Appraise the other negotiating party’s mental strength:

Be vigilant on how your counterpart appears, stands, moves, speaks, looks, what he says. Look at him in the eyes!

Get rid of nuisance sources:

Negotiating a departure may raise curiosity, envy or jealousy from your colleagues who might want to get informations from you as it may their turn tomorrow! So tell them you’ll talk to them when you know more ans that will set aside this king of interference.

Rely on a third party:

In order to make factual and rational decisions, get rid of tensions and stress and step back a bit, you’ll need someone outside you family and friend circles and not emotionally involved with you: the coach of course!

Treat the negotiation as something in which you excel:

If you’re a project manager, treat it as a project, if you’re a sales manager, see your counterpart as a difficult customer who will buy your product: your departure as you want it!

Conclusion

The coach helps separate the challenges and connect yourself to the reality of the here and now. Mentally prepare your negotiation with care means giving you the best chances to reach what you want out of it.

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