Start with No

May 13, 2002
Negotiation coach Camp has been under the radar since 1989, helping clients reach deals at Motorola, Merrill Lynch and IBM. He now brings his advice to the general public. Asserting that the term "win-win" has become a cliché, he suggests readers enter into every negotiation knowing that if the offer doesn't meet their expectations, they should walk away. He also advocates leaving emotions out of negotiations. "Whether we like it or not, it really is a jungle out there in the world of business, and it's crawling with predators." Camp's solid advice will help people control negotiations and prepare themselves for anything.

May 15, 2002
Claiming to be a negotiating coach and not a consultant, Camp has developed a system of negotiating that rejects the common concept of "win-win" and that urges people to get to an agreement as quickly as possible by any means, which in the author's view usually results in "win-lose." We learn that we cannot control the other party in the negotiations but can control and discipline our own actions and decisions. Concentrate not on winning but on the fundamentals of sound decision making. While his ideas are contrary to conventional negotiating wisdom, Camp counsels us to have a good, strong mission and purpose and to know the other party's real pain (why they are negotiating). Also, we learn to assess all the budgets involved, including our time and energy, money and emotional investment as well as our opponent's; to deal only with the real decision-maker; and to have a clear agenda for every contact. This is an excellent book with valuable insight.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2002, American Library Association.)