“Can we take a minute to step back so that I’m clear on our purposes? I want to be sure I’m on the same page as you.” If they level an accusation that strikes you as off base and are in a stubborn “I’m right” frame, reframe the issue as a difference between you: “I want to hear your perspective on this, and then I’ll share my view, and we can figure out where and why our views are different.” The opening is important because it sets the conversation’s tone and trajectory. MIT researchers have found a correlation between skilled interaction during the first five minutes of a negotiation and
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