GOALS AND RELATIONSHIPS Goals, the be-all and end-all of negotiation, are especially hard in relationships. That’s because the currency in most relationships is emotion, and most emotions cloud clarity about goals. The expression “Do your actions meet your goals?” often just points out the underlying conflict between goals and relationships and makes matters worse if a party is being emotional. Successful negotiation in a relationship requires empathy—sensitivity to the other person’s feelings and perceptions—as much as it requires focus on your goals.
