Life Goals Analysis
When you are preparing for a negotiation, try to take a big-picture perspective by using a life goals analysis. A life goals analysis is especially recommended for dispute-resolution negotiations, but is also useful when preparing for deal-making negotiations. For example, someone used the life goals analysis when successfully negotiating for a lead role in his company--a negotiation over salary and title that took many rounds.
To complete this analysis, ask yourself: How does this dispute (or deal) relate to my goals in life? When preparing your list of life goals, consider the following possibilities:
- Family goals. Do you want to spend more time with your family? How will you spend that time?
- Leisure goals. What do you enjoy doing when you aren’t at work?
- Retirement goals. When do you plan to retire and what will you do during retirement?
- Financial goals. What are your financial plans and how will you achieve them?
- Business and career goals. Do you have any plans to start a business or move to a new job?
- Relationship goals. Do you anticipate any changes in your personal relationships?
- Service goals. Do you want to increase your community service?
- Lifestyle goals. Do you have any health concerns? Do you want to change your lifestyle?
*For further information and an example involving a prominent physician, see Chapter 10, “Perform and Evaluate Your Agreement,” in Negotiating for Success:
