Negotiations. Conflict. Be Prepared.

Resources for Your Negotiations

Curated insights from our negotiation practice to read, apply and share.

Reading

Our Books.

Book cover: How to negotiate with stupid people by Mihai Isman

How to negotiate with stupid people

What should you do when the other side appears irrational, ignores the facts or seems to act against its own interests? This book explains why “difficult” negotiation counterparts usually follow a logic of their own, and how to understand that logic instead of becoming frustrated by it.

View on Amazon
Book cover: EinkaufsExzellenz, profitable procurement negotiations

Procurement Excellence

A practical guide to professional procurement negotiations, covering preparation, power analysis and negotiation strategies for procurement organisations.

View on Amazon

Podcasts

In conversation.

Selected podcast appearances on negotiation, culture and conflict.

Negotiating Across Cultures with Mihai Isman
Negotiations Ninja Podcast, episode 123, English
Listen ↗
Negotiating When the Stakes Are High
Lars Bobach Podcast, German
Listen ↗
Rethinking the art of negotiation
Mach Neu! Podcast, on Spotify, German
Listen ↗
Whoever Cannot Negotiate, Cannot Lead
Tragweite Podcast, on Spotify, German
Listen ↗

Tools

Tools for your negotiation practice.

Negotiation tool: Negotiating by EmailTool

Negotiating by Email

A practical guide for negotiation situations where face-to-face communication is not possible. This resource shows you how to communicate with precision, avoid misunderstandings, handle difficult messages and influence negotiations effectively through written communication.

Download tool (PDF, German) →
Negotiation tool: Stakeholder MapTool

Stakeholder Map

The Stakeholder Map reveals who influences a negotiation directly or indirectly. It helps you capture decision-making roles, dependencies, coalitions, conflicts and information asymmetries in a structured way and derive a targeted stakeholder strategy.

Download tool (PDF, German) →
Negotiation tool: Alternatives AnalysisTool

Alternatives Analysis

The Alternatives Analysis helps you assess how dependent each party is on reaching an agreement. By systematically evaluating both your own alternatives and those of the other side, you gain early insight into leverage, risks and the strategic options available to you.

Download tool (PDF, German) →

In the press

Our publications.

Selected articles and publications in professional journals, industry media and leading national publications.

Executive Negotiation Briefing
PDF · delivered after email confirmation, see Executive Coaching
To the briefing
„Hey Chef, ich bin super und ich will mehr Geld!“
Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung, FAZ archive (external link, German)
Read ↗
Killing your darlings: welche Taktiken oft im Einkauf verwendet werden und warum
Beschaffung aktuell, January 2020, German
Read ↗
Wie kulturelle Unterschiede Verhandlungen beeinflussen
Beschaffung aktuell, September 2019, German
Read ↗
Gute Deals erfordern gute Fragen
Beschaffung aktuell, June 2019, German
Read ↗
„Ein wenig“ Verhandlungsmacht zu haben, kann gefährlich sein
Beschaffung aktuell, May 2019, German
Read ↗
Gängige Irrtümer, die sich hartnäckig halten
Beschaffung aktuell, April 2019, German
Read ↗
Frauen verhandeln anders – Männer auch
Beschaffung aktuell, February 2019, German
Read ↗
Mit Trump-Typen verhandeln
Beschaffung aktuell, January 2019, German
Read ↗
Make the Most of Cooperative Negotiation Skills
Negotiations Ninja, English
Read ↗

All articles by Mihai Isman in Beschaffung aktuell ↗

Expert articles

Current perspectives on negotiation and conflict.

Drawing on our advisory and training experience, we share concise, practical insights into negotiation strategy, tactics, leadership and conflict resolution.

Artificial Intelligence

AI in Negotiation Preparation: Where It Helps and Where It Doesn't

The question is no longer whether AI should play a role in negotiation. For most organisations, it already does. The real question is where it creates value and where relying on it creates risk.

Read article →
Method

Why Your BATNA Determines the Outcome Before the Negotiation Begins

Most negotiators know the term. Very few have defined, evaluated and deliberately strengthened their BATNA before they walk into the room.

Read article →
Procurement & Sales

Why the Best Price Negotiations Are Rarely About Price Alone

Rising costs, tighter margins and growing commercial pressure tempt many negotiators into the same pattern: start with the price, defend firmly, concede in small increments.

Read article →
Intercultural

Intercultural Negotiations: The Biggest Mistakes Rarely Have Anything to Do with Culture Alone

The most expensive misunderstandings in international negotiations are rarely caused by bad intentions. Both sides believe they are negotiating the same issue, while following two very different scripts.

Read article →
Conflict Management

The Cost of Conflict: Why the Most Expensive Number Is Rarely Discussed

The cost of engaging external advisors is usually negotiated. The cost of the conflict that made the engagement necessary rarely is. Yet that second figure is almost always the larger one.

Read article →
Tactics

Ultimatums, Silence and Deadlines: Staying Composed Under Pressure

An ultimatum at the negotiation table triggers the same instinct in many people: offer something quickly so the tension disappears. That instinct is exactly what the tactic is designed to exploit.

Read article →

Interested in applying these insights to your own negotiation?

Request a consultation