Influence
Negotiation
To win negotiations, use the reject-then-retreat strategy.

To win negotiations, use the reject-then-retreat strategy.

from Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert B. Cialdini

From negotiating your phone bill to asking for a raise, you’ll have to negotiate many times in your life Good negotiation skills will help you get the best value for your money.

How to Apply This

  1. Make a bigger demand first, but do it right.
    The first step of the reject-then-retreat strategy is to demand more than you actually want. However, the bigger demand shouldn’t be unrealistic, or you’ll come across as insincere.

  2. Wait for the other person to reject it.
    The other person should reject this demand, considering that this may be more than their predetermined budget.

  3. Make a smaller demand.
    Now make a smaller demand. This works because the other person thinks that you’re compromising by reducing your demands.

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