Why is a Lead Negotiator Like the Conductor of an Orchestra?

Posted on Mar 12th, 2023

Negotiators are like conductors. When they take the floor, they signal that it's time to begin. They make sure everyone is ready with their instruments and has a clear understanding of what will happen next. The negotiator must know how to lead his team by listening closely to every member as well as gauging how quickly or slowly the process should move forward in order to reach an agreement that satisfies all parties involved.

Leading a Negotiation

A good conductor is not only an expert in his or her field but also knows how to bring in the experts and orchestrate their efforts. The best conductors understand that they cannot do it alone; they need a team of excellent players who are willing to work together toward a common goal. They know that each player has individual strengths and weaknesses, so they have created a system where each person can contribute their talents while still playing within their comfort zone. The exact same skills a lead negotiator requires.

The conductor keeps track of time by using cues from other musicians as well as an internal clock inside him or herself. This helps him decide when it's time for an instrument solo and when it's time for everyone else to come back into the mix again with full volume. It also gives him control over tempo--how fast or slow things move along--which is crucial in any negotiation process because if one side gets too far ahead (or behind), there won't be enough room left at the end for both parties' needs/requirements to be met satisfactorily. Timing is critical in negotiations; the lead negotiator needs to have a plan that meets the timing but has to sense the movements in the room and adapt the plan as the negotiation takes place. 

Bringing in experts

A lead negotiator should bring in experts in the same way that a conductor brings in guest musicians.

The expertise of your own team is crucial because you need to know what each person does best and how they can help with this particular negotiation. Your team may have different strengths, but it's difficult for them to do their jobs well if you don't know what those are. For example: if one person is really good at getting information from other people and another person excels at analysing data, then having both on hand will give you better results than just using one or the other alone--and having someone else who knows how all three interact could also be useful!

The subject matter also needs expert knowledge- it can't just be any old thing! Suppose there's a lot going on behind the scenes (e.g., complex laws or regulations). In that case, bringing someone who knows about them into discussions can help prevent problems later on down the road when dealing with those issues becomes necessary during negotiations."

Deciding the tempo of negotiations.

While the lead negotiator may be in charge of setting the pace of a negotiation, it's important to note that they do not have absolute control over it. They will be operating to a mandate that has been given to them. Everyone involved in the discussion influences how quickly or slowly things move along. If you find yourself wanting to speed up or slow down a discussion, it's good practice to consider why this might be happening--and then make sure everyone else knows where they stand on the issue at hand.

Intense Knowledge of the Music

The conductor is the leader of the orchestra. He or she has an intense knowledge of the music before they even go into rehearsals. Yes, they rehearse the orchestra. So why would a lead negotiator not do the same? Their role is to lead others toward a common goal. A good conductor understands that each team member has strengths and weaknesses and works with them to maximise their potential.

The conductor knows how important it is for everyone on stage to work together for everything to run smoothly during performance time. This includes understanding their relationship with each musician on stage and how his relationship with them affects how well they perform together in unison (and vice versa). It is the same for a lead negotiator. Taking time to sit and have a coffee is time well spent if it leads to a greater understanding of the team. 

Conclusion

If you've ever seen a conductor, you know that they have to keep all of their musicians in line. They must make sure the violinists aren't playing too loudly or off-key while also considering which violins should be playing at any given moment. In short, they need to pay attention to everything happening on stage so they can ensure everything goes smoothly! These are precisely the same skills that a lead negotiator needs to demonstrate; the only difference is the score they are working from.