The Art of Negotiation

Negotiation is the discussion and arrangement of terms in order to reach a resolution both sides are happy with. We negotiate how much we should pay for the roof over our head, the best title for an article we wrote, if Kanye West is the greatest hip-hop artist of all time, and we even negotiate which brand of coffee to buy. It is inevitable that negotiation takes a presence in our daily lives.

The purpose of negotiating is not simply to win an argument though. Negotiating is to satisfy your needs, while possibly sacrificing other factors to have that need met.

 It is easily forgotten when discussing an issue with someone opposing your concern that the person against you may not be actually against what you believe. This is because we tend to focus on the sole argument at hand. Step away from the issue, realizing in the heat of an argument, you are speaking with another human being. Ask the person what interests him or her; poke around to see if there is something you can place on the table to appease the opposing side. Also, be aware the person against you may be against you due to a previous insult. Always treat people as with politeness and charm as to never burn a bridge that provides easy travels.

For example, you request a raise at work of $2,000, knowing the company is only allowed to allocate annual raises of $1,000. Your boss tells you if the policy wasn’t in place, you would receive the raise as it is well deserved. You respond with options how to receive the raise, offering to take the $1,000 allotted for the year and the other $1,000 as a bonus not to be associated with an annual raise. Whether the outcome of this discussion was successful or not, the point is there are ways to work around a problem.

Another key attribute in negotiation is to only discuss objective data. Emotions get stirred when a person believes they are being attacked. Using objective data leaves no room for someone to feel attacked.

For example, you call a roofing contractor to your home for an annual inspection and the contractor tells you to get only parts of your roof repaired instead of the entire roof. The contractor quotes the repairs at $10,000. You find this to be an issue because you want the entire roof redone, as it is passed due and you want ensured protection of your home and family. Use objective information to define your point by inquiring the rates of other contractors for roof repairs in your area, as well as the sole purpose to fulfill a complete roof replacement as originally requested.

A final factor in the negotiation process that can make all the difference is acknowledging what the other side wants from you. Verbalize the exact result you are looking to gain from the negotiation, as your opponent may be completely unaware of your intent or needs. Your adversary may be uninformed regarding the importance in having a stable roof, thinking the problem is the pricing. Talk about what you want out of the negotiation; verbalize your needs so the other is educated on the subject at hand. This way, your opponent has the opportunity to change his or her attitude towards the discussion, or factors involved, possibly lending further options for a resolution to make both sides happy.

The subject of topic up for negotiation is irrelevant. How you treat people (as humans), with objective information, and see what the other side wants is what matters most. Negotiation is a tactical skill that takes time and practice to master, but once you do, getting to where you are heading becomes easier as more routes become available.

Society Fooled By Adobe's Photoshop

Society stresses the over-use of Photoshop, a photo-editing program by Adobe, on public figures, claiming the program blurs the line of what is real and what is fake.

Photos streaming the Internet community make headlines every time a celebrity’s unedited photos get leaked. Companies release campaigns that get bashed by the public for being ‘too Photoshopped’. The truly blurred lines between Photoshop and reality debuts from misguided truths of what is actually touched-up and what is not.

Photoshop is a post-production tool used to correct minor flaws and not for sole creation alone. Advertisements displayed across the inner beginning pages of Vogue Magazine are seen as flawless, making the viewer questions its authenticity. In March of 2013, L’Oreal “permanently discontinued” a set of mascara campaign advertisements due to claims of excessive Photoshop. But what goes into that L’Oreal headshot alone?

To start an advertising campaign, the company selects a model or celebrity to represent the brand or product. Usually the model already has close to flawless skin. Liquid makeup is placed on the models skin for an overall smooth base of foundation. Then a professional makeup artist applies high-quality makeup exclusive to specialists in the industry. After all of this is said and done, the photo shoot takes place and the photographer will then retouch the images to remove flyaway strands of hair, control light (if need be), and other small errors that would take the reader’s eye away from the brand or product.

The public is overly misled by how Photoshop works, what its purpose is, and who uses Photoshop. When it is even being used the statement, “it’s too Photoshopped,” has become a regularly occurrence. The photo shoot was probably a full-day production, with numerous salaries at work and endless light changes.

This year marks Photoshop’s 25^th birthday with the Alex Amado, Adobe’s senior director of creative and media, claiming “a huge milestone” for the photo-editing software program.

"It's the tool we put out into the world that's had the broadest impact," Amado said. "It's used in the design process of pretty much everything we see and touch these days—every ad you've reviewed, all the photography in every publication, everything from logos on T-shirts to billboards, industrial design and the movies."

So before making the claim “it’s too Photoshopped”, think about all the professionals involved in one single shot.