The Painless Negotiation leverages the principles of The Compelling Proposal to turn negotiations into straightforward business discussions on how to best maximize the value in a deal for both parties.

Using just three key concepts, anyone can accurately diagnose which side has the power, how compelling a deal is and to whom, how to trade to overcome obstacles, and how to frame the right negotiation to implement the best negotiation strategy.

Negotiating the right way then means ensuring we always trade (versus concede) and that no single thing is ever taken off the table-or agreed to-until the whole deal is agreed to.

From the book:

The formal negotiation is … where either all the good things you’ve done can pay big dividends, or all the ‘sins’ you’ve committed will have to be atoned for.

Not creating value when selling and/or failing to ensure value delivery from previous purchases … are the primary reasons that deals get stuck at the point of negotiation.

While it may seem counterintuitive, it is easier to negotiate a deal with a dozen deal levers on the table than with just one or two.

How you manage the negotiation with procurement will have a big influence on how the customer feels about the deal they make with you.