Certain skills come in handy, not only in a business setting, but in your private life, as well. If you’re one of many married people in Alaska who struggles to communicate effectively with your spouse, you both might benefit from improving your negotiation skills. If your relationship has already passed the point of no return and you are heading for a divorce, then negotiating skills may be especially helpful to you.
Divorce is a lot like a business meeting. You must determine your needs and goals ahead of time, then negotiate a fair settlement. The less conflict, the better, especially if you have children.
Achieve a fair divorce settlement by mastering these negotiation skills
Here’s a list of skills that come in handy when you’re trying to negotiate a fair settlement in a divorce:
- Effective communication through use of articulate verbal skills
- Ability to read and respond to another person’s emotions
- Preparedness that includes a list of goals and boundaries
- Focusing on the “big picture” rather than trying to “win” a single point
- Consideration of the other party’s viewpoints
- Learning from past sessions to improve future ones
If you can barely be in the same room without arguing with your ex, you might want to ask an experienced attorney to do all the talking for you during divorce proceedings. The most successful negotiation sessions are those where both parties are willing to listen, cooperate and compromise to achieve a solution that is fair and agreeable to both sides.
Learn to negotiate before heading to court
Negotiation skills are not something you want to “learn by doing.” You’ll fare better in court if you improve your skills ahead of time. You can tap into local resources, such as classes at a community college or articles made available online, to learn to master the skills mentioned earlier, as well as other tools and tips for effective communication and negotiation techniques.
What if your ex refuses to negotiate?
You can master every negotiation technique in the book and still be unable to achieve a fair settlement if your ex refuses to cooperate. Parental conflict is a source of high levels of stress for children who are navigating divorce proceedings with their parents. To avoid this, it’s best to allow others to negotiate on your behalf if your attempts to reach an agreement have been unsuccessful.
In addition to child custody, there are numerous other issues to negotiate in a divorce, including property division and other financial matters. Whether you are mediating, arbitrating or litigating your divorce, keeping the negotiation tips mentioned in this blog post in mind may help you avoid disputes and find common ground from which you can create a fair settlement.
