What is the Resistance Point?

A resistance point is the bare minimum terms that a negotiator is willing to accept in a negotiation. 

Why is the Resistance Point Important?

One should always establish a resistance point prior to beginning a negotiation. To do so, a negotiator should seek to understand herself, the counterparty, and the negotiation situation. 

Understanding each party’s interests, objectives, and resistance point allows a negotiator to development a strategy and select tactics to achieve that strategy. 

Any factors that may provide useful information in the negotiation or influence a counterparty’s negotiation strategy are relevant. 

Such understanding allows a party to establish a reservation point and proceed with the negotiation process. 

The reservation point may affect the negotiation process, and it is strengthen by an understanding of: 

• The nature and strength of each party’s interests, 
• Each party’s BATNA, and
• Each party’s cost of delay or non-agreement. 

The BATNA is generally the guiding force in determining the resistance point. It can also be a primary source of a party’s negotiating power. 

Each party to the distributive negotiation is advised to guard or conceal information about themselves while trying to find out as much information as possible about the other party. 

Should a Negotiator Disclose the Reservation Point? 

Generally, parties will seek to make concessions and selectively reveal information to determine the other party’s reservation point or other useful information. 

How does the Goal-Setting Paradox Affect the Reservation Point? 

Be aware of the goal-setting paradox. Pursuant to this theory, a negotiator who focuses on her ideas or principles in the negotiation rather than the reservation point may feel less satisfied in an outcome than a negotiator who focuses on her own reservation point. 

Related Topics

• How do parties define the issues or negotiation goals, known as the bargaining mix?
• How does one prioritize the issues in a negotiation?
• How do you frame up (identify the key characteristics of) a negotiation?
• What is the significance of understanding the resistance point of both parties?
• How do parties open the negotiation Anchor Point?
• Why is it important to plan for concessions?