Archive : Thoughts and Insights by Michael Gregory

The Business World

Two people shaking hands with about 20 small people standing on their arms.
October 7th, 2018

Here are three great ideas to help you in a negotiation

You have read about negotiation. You have practiced techniques. You are prepared. You have researched the other party on social media. You are ready to work on developing a great relationship. You believe you are ready to actively listen before beginning to educate the other party. You are looking for a win-win negotiation so that you can create value. Here are three other items to allow you to step up your game.

Two individuals shaking hands across a table after a negotiation
October 1st, 2018

This is how to close the deal in a negotiation

In some negotiations it seems like the deal will never close. This can be a technique used by one side to wear down the participants of the other side, it could be the result of factors beyond the control of participants or something else that you may never know. This commentary addresses such a situation, when you need or want to close the deal and the other side does not. What should you do? This article addresses this question.

A hand holding up a pole. On the pole are signs pointing each direction that state "I don't know"
September 24th, 2018

When might a contingency agreement be appropriate?

Sometimes both parties agree to disagree, but it can be possible for the parties to come up with

Man in a suit pointing to a contract on a white board apparently explaining the commentary and fine print
August 20th, 2018

This is how business advisors help business owners

I met with a business valuer that provides business owners with valuations.  We discussed the ways that business advisors help business owners.  Based on this discussion and follow up from that discussion I wanted to share some ideas with you.

Two women with big smiles with one shaking hands with a man
August 13th, 2018

This is how to enhance collaboration with your team and in a negotiation

Whether in business or in a negotiation, how can you improve collaboration? This can be difficult in business and especially in a negotiation with a difficult party. You have to work to keep your team focused and to help your team to stay focused and keep their eye on the ball. It is important not to be distracted by personalities, negative commentary and other distractions. So what should you do?

Human hand pointing to digital side of face and robot hand pointing to other half of human face
July 2nd, 2018

This is What You Need to Know About Artificial Intelligence in Our Future

It was my pleasure to attend the CTI NACVA conference at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas and hear a wonderful key note by Tim Urban on AI and the future. I wanted to share some of what I took away from his comments that I thought you too would find of interest.

Ten Steps for an Interest-Based Resolution
January 15th, 2018

Ten Steps for an Interest-Based Resolution

From the book Peaceful Resolutions a summary of one of the steps to resolving conflict is a free six sided pocket guide (that fits in your pocket).  One of the six sides of the tri-fold pocket guide offers Ten Steps for an Interest-Based Resolution.  This 10 step summary process is elaborated on in this text. 

In business two elements can continually be at odds with one another. These items are trust and transparency. Transparency is clearly a good idea, but when is to much a bad idea? This article explores this question with employees and then looks at this question related to a negotiation.
December 18th, 2017

This is why trust and transparency matter with employees and negotiations

In business two elements can continually be at odds with one another.

Lessons learned from positive, negative encounters
December 11th, 2017

Lessons learned from positive, negative encounters

This article summarizes lessons learned from interviews from 30 executives on lessons learned from positive and negative encounters.  We all can learn from these.

This is the way to enhance your reputation at the bargaining table
December 4th, 2017

This is the way to enhance your reputation at the bargaining table

What do you think? Does a reputation for collaboration or for competition suggest an advantage at the bargaining table?  We both know you cannot control what others say about you, but you can control what you do and how you do it. You only have one reputation and once that is tarnished you are in trouble. So what type of reputation should you try to cultivate?

Pages