Navigating the Art of Negotiation - Recap of Lifting as you Lead Mentoring Circles Program
Navigating the Art of Negotiation - Recap of Lifting as you Lead Mentoring Circles Program
December 20, 2023
The Lifting as you Lead Mentoring Circles (LLMC) program, a groundbreaking initiative created by the Diversity and Inclusion Office within the Materiel Group, National Defence, continues to transform the Federal Public Service by bringing together over 700 participants from more than 30 government departments. This strong and thriving community of inclusive leaders at all levels engage weekly in mentoring circles, advancing the principles of diversity and inclusion within the public service.
In the third week of the Lifting as You Lead Mentoring Circles (LLMC) program, the theme centred around skills building for negotiation. Participants discussed the art of negotiation, emphasising the importance of striving for win-win outcomes, thorough preparation, and understanding the nuances of cultural biases and implicit discrimination. The week was marked by insightful discussions, engaging lessons, and a thought-provoking TED Talk by Ruchi Sinha titled "Three Steps to Getting What You Want in a Negotiation."
Sinha emphasised a collaborative perspective, where the negotiator considers the needs and goals of the other party, leveraging this knowledge to strike a mutually beneficial deal. Her talk highlighted the importance of strategic negotiation, which encompasses conducting thorough research and preparing yourself mentally for negotiations in advance.
Discussing negotiations, LLMC members engaged in a generative conversation. One member emphasised the importance of adopting a collaborative approach during negotiations, prioritising the well-being of all parties involved. Another highlighted the significance of a win-win mindset for achieving successful negotiations. Yet another member expressed their appreciation for the lessons of the week, while another member liked the idea of negotiating for one’s desires and motivations, emphasising its applicability in various situations, even as simple as determining file assignments. Furthermore, one member provided concise definitions for two negotiation approaches: distributive negotiation, where one party gains at the expense of another, and integrative negotiation, where both parties have something to offer each other. They suggested that adopting the integrative mindset would lead to more successful negotiations. The space fostered by this community powerfully enables growth, collaboration, learning, reflection and successful networking.
The masterclass was equally engaging for all participants. Charles Achampong, a partner relations professional and Vice-President at Mitacs, led the masterclass. He emphasized that Mastering the art of negotiations entails becoming highly proficient in communicating with others to achieve your goals while ensuring they also achieve theirs, all while maintaining honesty and fairness. Additionally, we learned about key negotiation styles for successful outcomes, such as being well-prepared, setting clear goals and priorities, and fostering open communication to ensure all parties are heard and more.
In closing off the masterclass, members engaged in intimate discussions around the subject of negotiations, enabling participants to consolidate ties, build stronger networks, and learn from each other.
To learn more about the LLMC Discussion Guide and Masterclass on Inclusive Leadership, visit the GC wiki for all the resources:
Lifting as You Lead Mentoring Circles (LLMC) program
https://wiki.gccollab.ca/Lifting_as_You_Lead_Mentoring_Circles_Program_2023
Circle Guide - Mastering the Art of Negotiation https://wiki.gccollab.ca/images/c/c7/2023_LLMC_Circle_-3_Discussion_Guide_Mastering_the_Art_of_Negotiation.pdf
Masterclass - Mastering the Art of Negotiation with Masterclass Teacher Charles Achampong
