Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Figured It Out

Have you ever had one of those ah! ha! moments when you feel like you figured it out?

I had one yesterday. As a negotiations coach and an author I think I am pretty perceptive. But I discovered I was missing it with politics all these years. I guess I wasn't paying attention.

Now I do not pretend to be a political expert. I am not, but, I think I can hold my own in the world of negotiations since I coach them everyday.

But yesterday it hit me. I asked myself who is Nelson negotiating with? A key question I ask every client in every coaching session. Now you might be thinking and observing like I was and not thinking of politicians as negotiators. You see, what they do so often makes no sense, it gets fuzzy and hard to see but make no mistake, they are negotiators.

Take John McCain for example. Who was he negotiating with the last few days? Or ask yourself. How can Lieberman flip flop on the expanded Medicare option? Unbelievable, for goodness sakes it was his idea.

Just last year I had a former state representative and now lobbyist of 40 years tell me that in politics all that matters is the next election and having the funds to win it. Everything else follows. So, how do you get to that result? Well, know who you are negotiating with that helps you get there.

Nelson was absolutely negotiating with the folks in his neighborhood back home as well as Insurance Companies who donate. McCain was at the least negotiating with his staunchest conservative financial supporters and corporate contributors. He was a vision of defiance of the liberal left until the end.

And Lieberman, well he was negotiating with a few folks. First, he was negotiating with the Senate, creating the image he is not to be taken lightly in the future. He did not hurt himself with the Insurance Industry contributors either.

I think I figured it out. It took me 62 years but I can see clearly now. And you know, history tells us it was this way as the founding fathers brought our great country forth. Remember Ben Franklin began negotiating with many when he bought his first news paper in I believe 1726.

Jim Camp is the author of two best selling books on negotiations. He serves as a negotiations coach to global corporations, and individuals, and is CEO of Camp Negotiation Systems. Get his free report, "The Ten Biggest Mistakes to Avoid in Negotiations" at his web site http://www.startwithno.com