Negotiation Information

While Youre Waiting


Not long ago, I made a partnership pitch, on behalf of an organization I represent, to another organization with similar interests. If the idea had come to fruition, it would have radically changed our organization.

So, you can imagine my impatience when I didn't hear back from the person to whom I'd made the proposal. She had welcomed the idea, but told me the decision would be made by a council within her organization.

Given the dynamics of an important decision about the future of their organization, I didn't expect a quick response. But, I would have liked at least an update advising me on the status of their considerations.

Then, I had a "Eureka," or maybe I should call it a "Whoops," moment. I realized I hadn't reported back to the people in my organization either. That made me guilty of the same lapse of communication as the lady in the other organization. With that recognition, I made amends by sending out an email to my organization, and followed up with a report at a meeting.

In taking an analytical view of this incident, I realized that nothing can be something when it comes to communication.

The idea that nothing can be something seems counter-intuitive. But remember the famous Sherlock Holmes observation about the dog that didn't bark; the fictitious detective solved a baffling case by noting what did not happen, rather than what did happen.

You can probably come up with several ideas about the importance of communicating even though nothing has changed. That's especially true if you're the one who didn't hear from someone else.

First, you may have made plans that assume either a change in or a continuation of the status quo. Perhaps you're holding off on holiday plans until the issue is resolved one way or the other.

Second, at least you know that an anticipated decision or event hasn't yet occurred, and that you didn't miss something (for example, as I write this I'm waiting for a client to confirm some information and it would be nice to know that I haven't missed a callback or an emailed reply).

Third, if you've received an update telling you nothing has happened, you don't need to contact that person and ask if there have been any developments. Similarly, you can advise the people who look to you for information.

One other note about the 'nothing can be something' idea: It's a variation on what I've called the Everybody Knows syndrome. That refers to a failure to communicate, based on the assumption that others know what I know.

In summary, it's a good idea to report regularly, even if nothing has happened, since others may not know you're still waiting as well.

About The Author

Robert F. Abbott writes and publishes Abbott's Communication Letter. If you subscribe, you will receive, at no charge, communication tips that help you lead or manage more effectively. You can get more information here: http://www.CommunicationNewsletter.com

abbottr@managersguide.com


MORE RESOURCES:

ABC News

Talking To The Taliban
Times of India, India - Oct 10, 2008
The Pakistani parliament has held an in-camera joint session and news comes in of a negotiation between the Taliban and the Hamid Karzai regime mediated by ...
Talking to the Taliban – yet again guardian.co.uk
Can it make peace in the wider region? Economist
Talking to Taliban sparks controversy in Afghanistan - Feature Earthtimes (press release)
Independent - The Post
all 581 news articles


Sify

Citi Ends Negotiation with Wells Fargo on Wachovia Transaction
WELT ONLINE, Germany - Oct 9, 2008
Citi announced today that it had reached no agreement with Wells Fargo following several days of discussions about matters related to Wachovia. ...
Citi ends negotiation with Wells Fargo on Wachovia The Daily Deal (subscription)
Fed works toward an agreement on Wachovia The Associated Press
Half-Time Lessons From the Battle for Wachovia New York Times Blogs
Bloomberg - Winston-Salem Journal
all 3,267 news articles


PRESS TV

Iran’s letter to Solana shows dissatisfaction with 5+1
Tehran Times, Iran - 3 hours ago
The first response was that Iran was accused of being angry and not inclined to negotiation, whereas the main point of this letter was an invitation to ...
Iran writes to West: Avoid pressure MehrNews.com
all 17 news articles


2008 Scholar-Statesman Award Dinner
Washington Institute for Near East Policy, DC - Oct 10, 2008
I don't think one can hide behind negotiation. I think negotiation has to be part of the process. Satloff: As somebody who lived through the threats of ...


Voice of America

Nearly As Far-Fetched As The Maverick Lie -- Negotiation Preconditions
Huffington Post, NY - Oct 6, 2008
First, it's either naive or a fabrication when McCain suggests Obama will suddenly pop up at a negotiation with the leadership of Iran. ...
Nobody's dummy Salon
Post-debate polling favours Obama over McCain CTV.ca
Mad Dog Palin MWC News
OpEdNews - Huffington Post
all 1,187 news articles


WWJ

Fluidity needed in school negotiations
Mirror, MI - Oct 9, 2008
There are some daunting realities built into the negotiation process this year that haven't been seen in past negotiations, one namely being the economic ...
Kaneland teachers plan demonstration Geneva Sun
Wayne-Westland Teachers Walk Off the Job WWJ
Wayne-Westland Teachers Picketing WXYZ
Mirror
all 191 news articles


Gold report calls for more negotiation, less confrontation
McGill Reporter, Canada - Oct 9, 2008
... is a groundbreaking report, Entering a New Era for Managed Intellectual Property: From Confrontation to Negotiation, which calls on policy-makers, ...


HOW I SEE IT: McCain tends to shoot from the hip
Culpeper Star Exponent, VA - Oct 9, 2008
Then, just as a very delicate and bipartisan negotiation is about to bear fruit, he charges off to Washington to inject himself into the process. ...


Law Enforcement Uses Courthouse For Hostage Drill
Tampa Tribune, FL - 20 hours ago
With the courthouse closed Thursday for a holiday, the Special Response and Crisis Negotiation teams were able to use its space to conduct an exercise. ...


No-work-no pay policy: Group seeks reversion
Vanguard, Nigeria - 34 minutes ago
Part of the communiqué reads: "as part of the ongoing negotiation with the federal government, NAAT observe that the retirement age of the sixty-five years ...

Negotiation - Google News

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