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The pivotal negotiation skill required to unlock the best value from complex negotiation environments is to identify and understand the interests of all the stakeholders affected by or participating in the negotiation. In some cases, it is easy to understand both the positions & interests of players in the negotiation. In most cases, however, it is not only hard to identify the interests of all parties; it is also difficult to identify all the key players.

How to negotiate in complex, multi-party negotiations?

1. Identify all the stakeholders in the negotiation

This may seem obvious but in reality, it is often difficult to spot and track all the stakeholders in a negotiation. In a commercial environment, we should at minimum attempt to identify the following stakeholders:

a. Financial stakeholders

These are the individuals or groups that will finance, underwrite or give permission to reach an agreement based on the monetary terms proposed. It is key to uncover all potential individuals that may have an interest in the purely financial aspects of the negotiation.

b. User/consumer stakeholders

These are the individuals or groups that will execute and support the outcome of the agreement that is reached. These are the stakeholders that will live and work with the outcome of the negotiations on a day to day basis.

c. Technical & legal stakeholders

These are the individuals or groups that will sign off and agree to the technical and contractual elements of the negotiations.

d. Guides/Gurus & other Influencers

These are the people or groups that hold substantial influence over the pivotal decision makers involved in the negotiation.

2. Identify the interests of each participant in the negotiation

There are basically two ways to identify an individual or group's interest in a commercial negotiation. The first way is to put yourself in that person or group's position and to attempt to see things from his/her/their perspective. What supporting data would you need? What precedents would come into play? What assumptions can you make, and test? The second way is to ask the individual or group a series of questions to assist you (and them) to accurately identify their key interests. The best question to ask is "Why?" "Why is this negotiation important to you? Why are you assuming this position? Why are these options being explored?"

3. Create a frame that is appropriate for each stakeholder

Having identified the interests of each stakeholder party, you should now position the appropriate frame. Different people reach decisions for different reasons. It is not useful to highlight the same points to support decision making to all stakeholders. You should focus on communicating the most appropriate frame to each stakeholder or potential participant.

4. Create an effective management structure for the negotiation

If our counter parties experience us to be rational, the odds are significantly enhanced that they will also respond to us in a rational fashion. We can only present a common and rational 'front' if we have thought about the roles & responsibilities within our negotiation team. Split the focus in the team between those that will manage the Relationship aspects, and those that will manage or be involved in the Task dimensions.

Negotiation skills training teaches us to create an agenda that addresses the interests of all potential stakeholders. A successful way to simplify complex business negotiations is to add structure. We need to focus on the process elements to ensure that we make progress at every level of the negotiation. You will discover that complexity can be managed with the use of an appropriate supporting structure.

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