#11 – Saving The Trouble(s): How To Handle Belligerent Negotiations, As Told By The Northern Ireland Conflict

Does negotiation really still work in an increasingly disagreeable culture? How do you create structure in difficult dealmaking? How do you keep momentum going when things are tense? How do you close that kind of deal? This week on S4N, Gene examines the ethno-nationalist conflict in Northern Ireland, widely known as "The Troubles," to see what it can teach us about modern-day dealmaking. Learn about the Mitchell principles of negotiation, sharpen your understanding of the strategic use of deadlines, and tuck Gene's "morning-afternoon-evening" approach to difficult negotiations in your back pocket. Plus, break down the importance of "buying a ticket to the dance," gain tools for negotiating with belligerent parties, and get tips on how to identify and seize what Gene calls the moment of courage. Remember: negotiation is life. Mentioned in this episode: "No Hope For Tomorrow," a poem by Irish woman Karen Woods "Making Peace" by George Mitchell Your independent bookshop recommendations: Pegasus Books, Oakland, CA Warwick's, La Jolla, CA Anderson's Bookshop, Naperville, IL