How Persuasion is Used in a Negotiation?

In the absence of power to control a negotiation and coerce another party, a skilled negotiator may use tactics to persuade the other party. Persuasion itself is a strategic objective. There are any number of tactics that seek to persuade and achieve this objective.

What are Persuasive Tactics?

Persuasive tactics are generally separated into central route and peripheral route. 

What is a Central-route Persuasion?

These include direct, mindful, information-based routes to persuasion. Generally, think of central-route persuasion as invoking deep thought on the topic through logic and emotion. 

Examples of central-route persuasion tactics include: 

Control Agenda

Lay out issues in a manner that reflects ones own interests. Try to garner information and discuss with the other party what may be a hidden agenda. 

Generate Alternatives

Generate multiple alternatives for a bargaining issue that benefit ones self or that are of equal value to you. Present multiple alternatives to allow the other party to evaluate and select among the available options. The power of contrast (the psychological contrast effect) can make one option appear more favorable when presented alongside seemingly lesser options. For this purpose, try to invent irrelevant alternatives for the counterparty to consider. 

Influence Understanding

Attempt to influence the other party's interests or understanding of their alternatives. This is generally achieved by selecting presenting attributes of the interests at stake. Even presenting interests and alternatives in a given order can prove persuasive. 

Commitment and Consistency (the consistency principle)

Commit to ones message (based upon beliefs, feelings, etc.). There is a fundamental human tendency to be consistent in ones beliefs, feelings, and behaviors, not only to others, but also to ourselves. Interjecting such elements into a negotiation message contains both peripheral and central route persuasion. 

Reframe the Negotiation 

Reframing the negotiation can shift the focus on interests. It can stop an individual from becoming entrenched in a position or perspective. This is important if a party's resistance point is not within the zone of potential agreement. 

Evoke Fairness Heuristics 

Fairness or rights in a negotiation are a primary motivation for a negotiator. Egocentric bias is a negotiators tendency to focus on themselves. Creating a sense of empathy as to what is fair can alter the path of negotiation. 

Apply Time Pressure 

Time pressure can affect an individuals processing of an option. Specifically, it has been shown to cause hasty and irrational decisions. 

What are Peripheral Route Persuasion Tactics? 

Peripheral tactics, rather than use cognitive or mindful work, employ automatic responses to subtle cues to persuade. 

Examples of peripheral tactics include:

Leverage Status

An individuals status or position in an organization or society can lend itself to persuasiveness. 

• Primary status characteristics -  are indicators of legitimate authority that are relevant to accomplishing a specific task; e.g., rank, title, previous experience, etc. 
• Secondary status characteristics (or pseudo-status characteristics) - are highly-visible, personal qualities (such as sex, age, or ethnicity) that have little to do with a persons authority, legitimacy, or ability, but are often treated as though they do. 

Leverage Gender (Embrace Gender Perceptions)

Recognizing cultural stereotypes (or exposing negative stereotypes) can provide advantage in a negotiation. 

Social Networks (Part of the Group) 

This regards the tendency of individuals to follow the herd. A negotiator who is part of a social network is likely to be influenced by the actions, decisions, and beliefs of those in the network. 

Social Proof (Act Like Others) 

This is a situation in which we look to the behavior of others to determine what is desirable, appropriate, or correct. 

Physical Appearance Similarity

Individuals have a tendency to associate closely with individuals who have a similar physical appearance. This aids in understanding, communication, and can aid in the effectiveness of persuasive tactics. Further, some individuals show a level of submissiveness to individuals of far larger stature. 

Priming the Pump 

The process by which subtle cues and information in the environment can impact our behavior (at a level below our conscious awareness). Wearing colors, hanging art, using descriptive words are just example of subtle cues that can influence an individuals perceptions in a situation. 

Reciprocity

This is the practice of showing others the deference that they show us. If a negotiator is accommodating or makes a concession, the other party is likely to reciprocate. 

Reactance Technique (Reverse Psychology) 

A negotiation tactic wherein a negotiator plays on the opponents innate need to assert his or her individual freedom when it is threatened or controlled. 

Foot-in-the-door Technique

A tactic in which a person is asked to agree to a small favor and then is confronted with a larger request. People who accede to the small favor first are more likely to agree to the larger request later. 

Door-in-the-Face technique (or rejection-then-retreat tactic) 

A persuasion tactic in which a person makes an initial, extreme request to another party, making it more likely that they will secure agreement to a subsequent, smaller request. 

That's-not-all Technique (or sweetening the deal)

This is a tactic in which negotiators will offer to add more to a negotiated package or deal in order to persuade the other party to accept it.

Related Topics

• What is Strategy in Negotiation?
• How does Motivational Orientation affect strategic orientation?
• What is a strategic objective in a negotiation?
• What are some strategic objectives associated with negative outcomes?
• What is the process for developing a strategic negotiation plan?
• What is Self Assessment when strategically planning a negotiation?
• How should you proceed to Assess the Other Party when strategically planning a negotiation?
• How do you Assess the Situational Aspects when strategically planning a negotiation?
• How do you assess the Social Context when strategically planning a negotiation?
• What other factors are understood to affect strategy in a negotiation?
• Power Tactics and Strategy in a Negotiation?
• Tactics aimed at persuading a counterparty?
• Tactics to facilitate bargain within the Zone of Potential Agreement?
• Dealing with Distributive Negotiation Tactics?
• Integrative negotiation tactics?