Huthwaite and IACCM have a set forth a 5-phase Negotiation Maturity Model along with the percentages of respondent companies at each phase. If you haven’t seen studies on this topic, the results will be sobering: 80% of the companies surveyed have no formal negotiation process. The project team looked at companies’ negotiation processes, cross-organizational collaboration, data collection and analysis, preparation and planning, approval and escalation systems, training, success measurement, and other factors. If you’re getting dizzy right about now, you should probably consider yourself among the 80%.
It’s my job to be skeptical when vendors publish research reports covering areas where they have something to sell. However, during the past 10 years, ESR has seen procurement, sourcing and buyer departments get considerably more strategic when it comes to negotiating with suppliers. Selling organizations are being overpowered, out-strategized, and often just plain beat up by their customers. Not enough selling organizations are doing much about it. At least not in any way that has significant, measurable impact.
ESR has done sales effectiveness audits and assessments for companies that have taken a strategic approach to negotiation on the sell-side. There is no question in our mind that many of these companies are not giving up millions, or in many cases tens of millions and more per year in revenues and costs.
If you’ve just slammed your hand down on the desk and said, “I’ve had enough. We’re going forward with a strategic approach to negotiation, starting tomorrow,” hold on a second. I appreciate your intent, but it’s not so simple.
The best implementations of strategic negotiation ESR has seen is when it is integrated with the company’s sales methodology. If you don’t have a sales methodology, build that first.
Note: ESR has not formally evaluated Huthwaite’s negotiation approach, content, or delivery. At this point we’re only recommending you get your hands on the study from Huthwaite International’s website.
Photo credit: © Pat Lalli – Fotolia.com
Dave,
Great article. I couldn’t agree more. I’ve spent the last 6 years training fortune 500 companies in effective negotiation techniques. As an anecdote, my clientele is skewed about 2 to 1 in favor of buyers or buying organizations. I have found salespeople in general less receptive to the idea of training in negotiation. Pure speculation suggests it may be a characteristic of the personality profile. I’m basing my remarks on existing clients, where I have worked with their buyers and after demonstrating massive bottom line results still received irrational push back from the selling departments.
I specialize in applying advanced behavioral and psychological techniques to commercial negotiation. For more information check out my blog at bit.ly/61YfKZ