All work, no play ....

The full saying should be like this " all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy". Yes, we need to find fun in our job to keep our passions going. How do we do that ?  Whatever happens, we view it with a different angle and enjoy the perspective.  Don't be so serious , relax, accept  and enjoy it.

There are times  in a serious meeting that we can poked some fund in our conversation.  Don't be scare or fearful, it will break the ice and you will be surprised how the people around you will enjoy the break.

This afternoon, I have a serious discussion with my colleague, K . He is one of my companies' Business Development Manager.  We were negotiating on some business agreement and he told me that the charges for his services were too low and he will make losses for each job undertaken by him or his staff. How can he survive if any job done do not bring in the profits ? He was frowning and complaining and the situation was becoming uncomfortable. Suddenly, I bring in the subject of massage and his face brightens up.  He loves to massage and we have gone a massage trip before.

From that moment, he seems to be more compromising and creative to find a solution for the pricing matter. We compromise on the threshold and if the services is above certain trigger point, he would reduce his pricing. Yes, if he is able to expand his profit base , then he will reduce the pricing.  Done. The deal was done.

When we are involved in a serious negotiation and in a stalemate, we should pause for a break or create so jobs.  We should shift the subject to "play" instead of focusing on work. We should punctuate it with several breaks or pause to release the pressure.

Once, I had a meeting with a German team for a continuous three hours and in between this three hours, the German team leader asked for breaks and they will move out of the room for 10 to 15 minutes  and will resume the negotiations after that.  During the three hours, we have three breaks.  Although, the deal was not struck but it was a bearable negotiation and all of us have the time to de-stress.  I presumed this is a good technique for any negotiation.  Furthermore, every negotiation must have a win-win formula.

Nobody should walk away feeling cheated, compromised  or a loser.  If this happen, the deal will break sooner or later and we will need to go back to the negotiation table or the service granted will be sub-standard.

We must be fair in our dealings and not to have a lop-sided due which favors either sides and the relationship will prolong.

Namaste.