1. Be Prepared This is not just motto of Boy Scouts. Preparation is single most important element in successful negotiations. In negotiations, information is power. The more relevant information you have, better your position is. Preparation for your negotiations can not be overdone. Allow yourself adequate time to prepare prior entering any negotiation.

2. Understand The Needs Of Your "Adversary" Your "adversary" in this context is other party in negotiation. Your relationship with this party may not normally be described as adversarial, for purposes of this discussion we will view negotiation as an adversarial relationship.

Put yourself in your adversary's shoes. What would they like to gain from negotiation? Write down as many possible goals as you can think of. Prioritize your list in order that you believe your adversary would. Identify items you are willing to negotiate and those items which are nonnegotiable.

3. Know What Your Needs Are What do you need out of negotiations? More money? More flexibility? Better opportunities? Access to broader markets? Make a list of those things you would like to receive as a result of negotiations. Refine and prioritize your list before starting negotiation. Identify items you are willing to negotiate and those items which are nonnegotiable. This list and one created above will allow you to know what your true "bottom line" is.

4. Most Negotiations Involve On Going Relationships With exception of large purchases, most negotiations involve parties involved in a long term relationship. Whether relationship is family, friends or business associates, it will be necessary to continue to deal with your "adversary" outside context of negotiation. Always be sensitive to potential impact of your negotiations on these relationships.

How many times have you had a really great idea or wanted to take a risk and try something new, only to have a little voice inside your head shout:

"It wouldn't work!" "You couldn't possibly do that!"

or "What a silly idea".

Everyone, at some point in their lives has listened to their little voice cautioning them against following a certain action. If you frequently question what you do and think, and veer away from making decisions, then you may be stopping yourself from reaching your fullest potential. You may be slowly squeezing special creative energy and inspiration inside of you that makes you unique, into a tight knot that needs to desperately unravel.

So what motivates that niggly little voice? What is stopping you from making that important decision or trying something new?

One of most common answers is FEAR. Fear is greatest single barrier to success in our personnel and professional lives. The emotion of fear is intended to warn us of danger and to act as a cautionary tool. It should make us stop and think before taking action.

The Great Dictator?

What fear shouldn't do is dictate course of action we take. It shouldn't control our thoughts or relationships with other people, and most importantly fear shouldn't shape who we are or what we want to achieve in our lives.

On a conscious or subconscious level all of us have felt impact of fear in our lives. Whether it is fear of making a decision, fear of failure, a fear of what other people will think, or fear of success - consequences are same.