Negotiation
What it means
A discussion intended to produce a fair or workable agreement.
Reach for it when describing structured discussion aimed at a workable agreement
Careful negotiation produced a schedule both teams could support.
Words to choose between 9
| playful | |
|---|---|
| everyday | |
| warm | |
| professional |
|
| formal |
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playful
give-and-take
Fits when reciprocal adjustment should sound informal
Careful It can minimize high-stakes rights or terms that should not be casually traded.
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everyday
discussion
Fits when neutral broad language is sufficient
Careful A discussion has no necessary intention to settle terms.
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warm
Fits when sustained mutual understanding is the immediate goal
Careful Dialogue may improve relations without producing a concrete agreement.
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professional
bargaining
Fits when parties exchange concessions over terms or price
Careful Bargaining can sound transactional and adversarial when the issue is relational.
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professional
consultation
Fits when seeking views is more important than trading terms
Careful Consultation can end with one side deciding without consent from the others.
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professional
settlement talks
Fits when resolving an active dispute is the explicit purpose
Careful The phrase is too legal and conflict-heavy for routine planning.
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formal
conferring
Fits when people privately exchange views before acting
Careful Conferring lacks negotiation's emphasis on reconciling different positions.
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formal
deliberation
Fits when careful collective consideration precedes a decision
Careful Deliberation need not involve opposing interests or agreement between parties.
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formal
Fits when a neutral third party helps the sides communicate
Careful Mediation is a specific assisted process, not every negotiation.
Opposites 4
- stalemate
- deadlock
- dictation
- refusal
Common phrases 4
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collective negotiation
Collective negotiation produced safer hours for the entire crew.
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enter negotiation
Both councils agreed to enter negotiation before filing a formal complaint.
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negotiation process
The negotiation process gave each family time to review the proposal.
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successful negotiation
Successful negotiation preserved the partnership and clarified the budget.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Neskaya, Southern California accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Updated