One useful tip that I learned through a recent mediation that I conducted is that it is helpful to get whatever you can do at the mediation table done then and there. It sounds rather straightforward, but in the heat of the mediation, when the parties are finally at a point where they’re ready to settle, this simple step can be overlooked. It may involve nothing more than contacting a third party to either give or receive information. I would think that this same principle applies in negotiations. The more that you can do at the negotiation table, the more trust will be built up between the parties. So, if your negotiated or mediated deal potentially involves the payment of a sum of money, have that documentation on hand if you’re the payee and bring your chequebook if you’re the payor. The less “take-aways” involved in the settlement, the more durable it will be.

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To make better decisions, we need to understand how our mind takes shortcuts and how those shortcuts trick us into making bad decisions. If you understand how your mind works and when it fails you, you will make better decisions. To improve your decision-making skills, please visit our Effective Decision Making Workshop page to learn more about upcoming in-person and instructor-led online sessions.