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For those who give presentations to educate, entertain or sell something it is essential to know your audience and perhaps there is no more interesting organization to present to than an HOA or Home Owner’s Association. Their needs, perceived needs and the organizations desires are so elusive that often the leadership involved does not realize the reality. So, how do you present or make a presentation to a Home Owner’s Association if this is the case?

Well, it’s not easy, but there are a few things you need to understand, namely that the board of a Home Owner’s Association is often as divided as a school board and the members are as diverse as the public politic in America. And if you have ever heard that all politics is local, then just imagine a Homeowner’s Association with 800 to 2500 homes, with each home owner having a different opinion and view of how things should get done?

Home Owner’s Associations realize that keeping the peace 100% of the time is nearly impossible, but that is their attempt. To approach a 100% approval rating they must remain in constant communication with the home owners and listen to their complaints, wants and needs. Thus, when presenting to an HOA the presenters must take this into consideration and explain how the project will help lessen complaints, make the home owners happy and save them money. If a presenter can do those things, then they are in like flint.

Not long ago, a local solar energy contractor was working with an HOA on putting up solar panels on homes and allowing the HOA to guarantee the loan, which would be paid off with higher fees, but would reduce everyone’s energy costs. Then the complaints started coming in, as no one wanted higher fees, then folks complained that their favorite trees would have to be cut down, trimmed or removed so the solar panels could get maximum efficiency, meaning the air conditioners would cost more to run, eliminating the savings.

The Solar Company was not ready for such a complaint. In the end it happened not to be the case, in fact, even without cutting any trees the solar would still pay off, but the damage was done, the board was threatened with being terminated and replaced and the whole thing was quite ugly, even though the idea was completely viable. See the point, communication is the key and these things must be full explained and presented up front. Think on this.

When you negotiate, do you fear compromise? Do you know the best way to compromise in a negotiation?

Too many times, negotiators lose deals either because they don’t compromise, or they don’t know how to do so in the right way. Read this article and you’re sure to pick up some tips as to how to compromise in your negotiations.

Test Compromise Request:
Negotiation Tip: When you’re asked to make a compromise, first question the intent of the request; you really need to know why it’s being made. If you believe it stems from greed, physically display contemplation. Then ask why you’re being asked for the compromise. In so doing, you’ll gain insight into the mental thought process of the other negotiator, which will allow you to make assumptions about his future request (i.e. you can prepare for them). If you feel the compromise is unwarranted, deny it, give a reason if that’s appropriate, and move on. If you do grant it, find out what else might be associated with the request before doing so. You don’t want to make one compromise after another, not knowing when the requests will end.

Compromise Slowly:
When compromising, do so slowly. First, by doing so, you slow the pace of the negotiation. Second, you display non-verbally, that you’re ‘weighing’ the perspectives of your contemplation. In essence, you’re sending the signal that you’re not being flippant per the request and you’re giving it the thought process so do. By not compromising quickly you also send the signal that the other negotiator should be cautious about making too many requests.

Leave Room for Compromise:
When making compromises, consider alternatives to what’s being asked for and the impact that such will have on the negotiation. Just because the other negotiator ask for ‘x’ doesn’t mean he really wants it. He may be testing you to see what he can get from you. If that’s the case, in some situations you may want to make the concession (compromise) as a setup to a request you dearly wish him to grant you. In such situations, use compromises statically. Regardless, don’t be haphazard with them and always leave room for compromise.

Never Fear Asking:
When it comes to seeking more of what you want in a negotiation, don’t fear asking for it. Some negotiators feel, if they ask for too much, they might lose what they’ve already received. That can be true, but if you preference your request with humility, you can take the potential sting out of your request. The way to do so might be saying something like, ‘I appreciate getting to the point of where we are, might you be able to give ‘x’ to slightly improve the deal?’ If you make your request in this manner very few negotiators would assess you as being belligerent.

Fear not when it comes to compromising during a negotiation. There are a myriad of ways to position your request such that you gain more by doing so, while leaving the other negotiator in a positive frame of mind. Implement the thoughts above during your negotiations and more of your requests will be granted… and everything will be right with the world.

Remember, you’re always negotiating!

Negotiations do vary. But whatever the technique, there is the risk of getting off track. That is why it’s important to arm yourself with the basic skills for negotiation – to prevent communication breakdown.

Learn To Communicate

Being clear on what you want to communicate is the first step in any successful negotiation. Having a strong idea to communicate what you want to say and what the other party wants to know is a good starting point.

Get Your Facts Right

Do your research and collect all the relevant facts. It’s vital that you prepare and rehearse all the details of the negotiations. Such details include issues such as your start date, salary and benefits, and how you will end the meeting.

After establishing these factors, you should strive to figure out what the other party wants in a calm and straightforward manner. You should always make sure that you are listening to the other party – it is a sign of respect, and your opinions will be better appreciated.

You can achieve this by repeating the points that the other party makes and by using positive language and feedback.

Avoid Arguments

While negotiating, you should never forget that it is all about finding a win-win solution. Arguments are the last resort and should be avoided at all costs. If you need to convey that you feel that the other party is wrong, do it in a nice way – this avoids creating bad blood and sending the negotiations south.

Of course, disagreements are bound to arise, as everyone thinks differently. If you have to differ on a certain point, do it in a way that does not demean the person you are negotiating with.

You should always remain emotionally calm, no matter how much you are provoked. You should be prepared to compromise and also try to convince the other party to make compromises. This is best accomplished by being prepared to adjust your expectations in order to meet the needs of the other party. Often it’s good to ask, “Does that sound OK to you?”

Whenever a negotiation involves money, it is wise to let the employer put the figure on the table first. This eliminates the possibility of you quoting a figure that might be either too high or too low.

At the same time, it’s also good to aim high, so that you won’t be exploited. Nothing beats confidence at the negotiating table, and that comes from understanding of what wining the negotiation means to you and your future career prospects.

Flexibility – The Key

You should always remain flexible throughout the negotiations. This is important, just in case the other party decides to change the terms of the deal. Your preparation will help you immensely, as you may need to change your negotiation approach without putting your objectives in jeopardy.

Showing signs of desperation may also prove expensive in some negotiations. It’s better if you indicate that you really want the deal to come through – but not at the price of saying yes to every issue.

How you close the negotiation is important. That means making sure that there are no loose ends left to tie up.

When it comes to your career, negotiation is necessary. Follow the tips above, and you will probably be successful.