When negotiating, it’s usually necessary to compromise to reach a consensus. Some negotiators will use hard-bargaining techniques to force you into accepting their terms. These tactics are difficult to detect since they often take subtle forms like a snort, or closed body language. This tactic is effective in high-stakes negotiations, where the other party feels they must “win” to maintain their position.
The slippery slope tactic involves feeding bad news or difficulties into the negotiation in thin slices, gradually increasing the intensity of the negotiations until it becomes ineffective. This tactic may be an indication that the other party feels under pressure and attempting to induce impatience in order to conclude the deal.
This tactic uses a number of psychological tricks to make you feel uncomfortable and unprepared. They might bring up a subject that isn’t a priority for you, and then suggest that you don’t know anything about it. This could be as simple as the presentation of a document that is not verified to support their argument.
This strategy is particularly beneficial if you’re feeling tired or stressed due to jet lag, travel, or stress. By making you feel exhausted, they may encourage you to accept compromises on other aspects of the deal. This tactic is used a lot in high-stakes negotiations, where the other party is under pressure to get the most advantageous deal. If you suspect another party of employing this tactic, attempt to discuss each issue in a separate manner from the previous one.