Questions to ask as you prepare to negotiate a deal

Corporate deal making can be a cutthroat operation – but it also requires diplomacy and finesse, so it’s critical to assemble the right team to get the job done. The team that works like a well-oiled machine in the office on regular business may not be the team you want to make the best deal for your company. You need to look for people who have specific strengths that complement each other.

Here are four questions to ask as you assemble your negotiating team.

Do you have a quiet interpreter?

Do you have someone who is gifted at reading and decoding signals from non-verbal communication? They will play a valuable role in reading the temperature of the room, and advising where the other parties may seem vulnerable, or if your team is pushing too hard.

As a leader, view your negotiations as a team sport and you are the coach. Decide who is best equipped to handle specific aspects of the negotiation, and allocate tasks accordingly.

Have you resolved disagreements?

Sometimes…