How to Negotiate in English - Business English Lesson
How to Negotiate in English - Business English Lesson
Short Summary:
This lesson focuses on the language used in business negotiations. It covers how to clearly state your position, accept or reject proposals, and express yourself professionally in English. The lesson uses a role-play scenario of a clothing wholesaler negotiating with a manufacturer's representative to demonstrate key negotiation techniques. The video highlights the importance of using clear and concise language, understanding the other party's needs, and effectively expressing conditions and disagreements. It also emphasizes the importance of maintaining a calm and professional demeanor throughout the negotiation process.
Detailed Summary:
Section 1: Setting the Stage
- Introduces the concept of business negotiations and its importance in the business world.
- Highlights the importance of clear communication and professional language.
- Introduces the role-play scenario involving a clothing wholesaler and a manufacturer's representative.
Section 2: Making Your Position Clear
- Demonstrates how to clearly state your needs and expectations using direct statements, specific questions, and open-ended questions.
- Provides examples of phrases like "I suggest starting small and scaling up later," "What kind of volumes are we looking at?", and "What do you have in mind exactly?"
Section 3: Expressing Conditions
- Explains how to effectively communicate conditions and limitations using "if-sentences," "assuming," "supposing," and "as long as."
- Provides examples like "If we're ordering around 100,000 units at one time, what kind of per-unit pricing can you offer?" and "Assuming that you need a flexible schedule, we could offer six dollars per unit."
Section 4: Handling Disagreements
- Demonstrates how to express disagreement directly and professionally using phrases like "We won't be able to offer you the lower price," "I'll come right out and say that's not going to work for us," and "I'm sorry but I have to draw a line here."
- Emphasizes the importance of maintaining a calm and respectful tone even when disagreeing.
- Suggests taking a break to cool off if the situation becomes confrontational.
Section 5: Resolving Disagreements
- Explains how to make suggestions and counter-proposals to move forward from an impasse.
- Provides examples of phrases like "I have a proposal which I hope can make this work for everyone," "Here's my solution," and "I'll make another offer."
- Demonstrates how to react to the other side's suggestions and negotiate a compromise.
Section 6: Reaching an Agreement
- Explains how to summarize the agreed-upon points and outline the next steps.
- Provides examples of phrases like "Let's go through the main points," "Regarding delivery," and "We'll put this in writing."
- Emphasizes the importance of clarifying details and addressing any remaining issues.
Notable Quotes:
- "If you can reach an agreement, then that's great! But, what if there's a sticking point?"
- "I'm sorry to be blunt, but this seems a little short-sighted on your part."
- "I think this is a good compromise which allows us to move forwards."
- "We still need to settle the exact details of sizes, colours, and so on."