The phone call between US President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull offers us a unique and contemporary insight into negotiations.

Was this a negotiation?

What is a negotiation?

Why do we negotiate?

When two parties are striving for the greatest possible profit for themselves and the greatest possible loss for their adversary, can a negotiation actually take place?

When concessions are exchanged which create new values and allowances are made that maximise gains and minimise loss for both parties, is this the basis for a good negotiation?

What happened between Trump and Turnbull has arguably resulted in a confused outcome, has potentially threatened the US–Australian relationship and has diminished the status of both protagonists.

Could this have been avoided if both sides had practised good negotiating skills?

The negotiations that take place in your organisation might not be as high-stakes as this one but great negotiation skills will let you achieve the outcomes you want.

Ethos CRS can help you develop the negotiating skills you need in today’s fast-paced environment and will customise workshops for your organisation.