Negotiation Vocabulary

word
part of speech

meaning

example sentence

We can't offer you the raise you

other options
requested, but let's discuss some other
alternatives.
amplify
Could you amplify on your proposal
expand; give more information
verb
please.
We're better to settle this between us,
arbitration
conflict that is addressed by using a
because a formal arbitration will cost
noun
neutral third party
both of us money.
We bargained on the last issue for
bargain
try to change a person's mind by
over an hour before we agreed to take a
verb
using various tactics
break.
bottom-line
I'll accept a raise of one dollar per hour,
the lowest one is willing to go
noun
but that's my bottom-line.
collective
This is a collective concern, and it isn't
together
adj
fair to discuss it without Marie present.
If you are willing to work ten extra
compensate
make up for a loss
hours a week we will compensate you
verb
by paying you overtime.
comply
I'd be willing to comply if you can
agree
verb
offer me my own private office.
compromise changing one's mind/terms slightly We are willing to compromise on this
verb
in order to find a resolution
issue because it means so much to you.
concession
I think we can offer all of these
a thing that is granted or accepted
noun
concessions, but not all at once.
conflict
It is impossible to engage in conflict
resolution
general term for negotiations
resolution when one of the parties
noun
refuses to listen.
I confronted my boss about being
confront
present an issue to someone directly undervalued, and we're going to talk
verb
about things on Monday.
consensus
It would be great if we could come to a
agreement by all
noun
consensus by 5:00 P.M.
cooperation
I have appreciated your cooperation
the working together
noun
throughout these negotiations.
counter
the offer/request which is presented In their counter proposal they
proposal
second in response to the first
suggested that we keep their company
noun
proposal
name rather than creating a new one.
Before we could start our
counterattack
present other side of an issue
counterattack they suggested we sign
verb/noun
a contract.
counterpart
person on the other side of the
I tried to close the discussions at noon,
noun
negotiations
but my counterpart would not stop
alternatives
noun

word
part of speech

cordially
verb/noun
demands
adv
deadlock
noun
dispute
noun
dominate
verb
entitled
adj
flexible
adj
haggling
verb
hostility
noun
high-ball
verb
impulse
noun
indecisive
adj
leverage
noun
log-rolling
noun
low-ball
verb
mislead
verb
mutual
adj

meaning

example sentence

talking.
In the past I have had little respect for
that client, but today she spoke
politely
cordially and listened to my point of
view.
needs/expectations that one side
They had some last minute demands
believes it deserves
that were entirely unrealistic.
When the discussions came to a
point where neither party will give in deadlock we wrote up a letter of intent
to continue the negotiations next week.
I was hoping to avoid discussing last
argument/conflict
year's dispute, but Monica is still
holding a grudge.
have the most control/stronger
Max has such a loud voice, he tends to
presence
dominate the conversations.
My contract says that I am entitled to
be deserving of
full benefits after six months of
employment.
We have always been flexible in terms
open/willing to change
of your working hours.
arguing back and forth (often about We've been haggling over this issue for
prices)
too long now.
I want you to know that we don't have
long-term anger towards another
any hostility towards your company
despite last year's mixup.
I'm planning to high-ball my
make a request that is much higher
expectations when I open the
than you expect to receive
discussion.
quick decision without thought or
I acted on impulse when I signed that
time
six-month contract.
They were so indecisive we finally
has difficulty choosing/making a
asked them to take a break and come
decision
back next week.
(bargaining power) something that We have a little bit of leverage because
gives one party a greater chance at we are the only stationary company in
succeeding over another
town.
After a bit of log-rolling we came to an
trading one favour for another
agreement that pleased both of us.
I was expecting my boss to low-ball in
offer something much lower than
the initial offer, but he proposed a fair
you think the opponent will ask for salary increase.
convince by altering or not telling
the whole truth about something
agreed by both or all

They misled us into thinking that

everything could be resolved today.
The decision to call off the merger was
mutual.

word
part of speech
objective
noun
point of view
noun
pressure
verb
proposal
noun
receptive
adj
resentment
noun
resistance
noun
resolve
verb
tactics
noun
tension
noun
trade-off
noun
ultimatum
noun
unrealistic
adj
victory
noun
yield
verb

meaning

example sentence

My prime objective is to have my

family members added to my benefits
plan.
From my point of view it makes more
person's ideas/ thoughts
sense to wait another six months.
work hard to convince another of an He pressured me to accept the terms by
idea
using intimidation tactics.
While I listened to their proposal I
argument to present
noted each of their objectives.
His positive body language
open to/interested in an idea
demonstrated that he was receptive to
our suggestions.
anger held onto from a previous
Mary's resentment stems from our not
conflict
choosing her to head the project.
We didn't expect so much resistance on
a display of opposition
the final issue.
Before you can resolve your
end conflict, come to an agreement differences you'll both need to calm
down.
There are certain tactics that all skillful
strategies used to get one's goals met
negotiators employ.
feeling of stress/anxiety caused by There was a lot of tension in the room
heavy conflict
when George threatened to quit.
Lower payments over a longer period
terms that are offered in return for
of time sounded like a fair trade-off
something else
until we asked about interest charges.
His ultimatum was that if I didn't agree
a final term that has serious
to give him the raise he asked for, he'd
consequences if not met
quit today without two week's notice.
It's unrealistic to think that we will
very unlikely to happen
have all of our demands met.
We considered it a victory because they
a win
agreed to four of our five terms.
The client will only yield to our
to give in to another's requests
conditions, if we agree to work over
the holiday weekend.
goal for the outcome