A Fast No Can Save You 3 Months
In serious business negotiations, a clear no today can be far more valuable than a vague maybe that drags on for three months. The practical approach is simple: Name the other side’s risk. Show that you understand what they are worried about before it becomes an argument. Say the hard thing early. Be polite, professional, and direct about the issue that could kill the deal. Ask the real question. “Given those risks, is there still a structure here you would seriously consider?” If the answer is no, that is useful information. You may have just saved weeks or months of wasted effort. The goal is not to win another meeting. It is to find out whether there is actually a deal worth pursuing. This is the kind of problem-solving I focus on at NewPhysician.org, including restructuring, turnaround, complex operations, negotiation, and special situations. Sonny Saggar, MD Professional Problem Solver Fractional Chief Transformation & Operations Officer If you have a difficult business problem, visit NewPhysician.org and click Discuss a Difficult Problem.
Episode notes
In serious business negotiations, a clear no today can be far more valuable than a vague maybe that drags on for three months. The practical approach is simple: Name the other side’s risk. Show that you understand what they are worried about before it becomes an argument. Say the hard thing early. Be polite, professional, and direct about the issue that could kill the deal. Ask the real question. “Given those risks, is there still a structure here you would seriously consider?” If the answer is no, that is useful information. You may have just saved weeks or months of wasted effort. The goal is not to win another meeting. It is to find out whether there is actually a deal worth pursuing. This is the kind of problem-solving I focus on at NewPhysician.org, including restructuring, turnaround, complex operations, negotiation, and special situations. Sonny Saggar, MD Professional Problem Solver Fractional Chief Transformation & Operations Officer If you have a difficult business problem, visit NewPhysician.org and click Discuss a Difficult Problem.