Negotiation is a process where two or more parties with different needs and goals discuss an issue to find a mutually acceptable solution. In business, negotiation skills are important in both informal day-to-day interactions and formal transactions such as negotiating conditions of sale, lease, service delivery, and other legal contracts.

Good negotiations contribute significantly to business success, as they:

1. Help you build better relationships
2. Help you deliver lasting, quality solutions — rather than poor short-term solutions that do not satisfy the needs of either party
3. Help you avoid future problems and conflicts.

Negotiating requires give and take. You should aim to create a courteous and constructive interaction that is a win-win for both parties. Ideally a successful negotiation is where you can make concessions that mean little to you, while giving something to the other party that means a lot to them. Your approach should foster goodwill, regardless of the differences in party interests.

To draw a decision tree, first pick a medium. You can draw it by hand on paper or a whiteboard, or you can use special decision tree software. In either case, here are the steps to follow:

1. Start with the main decision. Draw a small box to represent this point, and then draw a line from the box to the right for each possible solution or action. Label them accordingly.
2. Add chance and decision nodes to expand the tree as follows:
   If another decision is necessary, draw another box.
   If the outcome is uncertain, draw a circle (circles represent chance nodes).
   If the problem is solved, leave it blank (for now).
   From each decision node, draw possible solutions. From each chance node, draw lines representing possible outcomes. If you intend to analyze your options numerically, include the probability of each outcome and the cost of each action.
3. Continue to expand until every line reaches an endpoint, meaning that there are no more choices to be made or chance outcomes to consider. Then, assign a value to each possible outcome. It could be an abstract score or a financial value. Add triangles to signify endpoints.
   With a complete decision tree, you’re now ready to begin analyzing the decision you face.

If you feel like you lack the basic skills required for good communication, there are a number of reliable ways to improve. Here are a few tips for developing your communication skills:

1. Practice active listening. Effective communicators are always good listeners. Active listening means engaging with what people say by giving affirmative replies and asking follow up questions to show that you are paying attention.
2. Focus on nonverbal communication. Mastering nonverbal cues and nonverbal signals can help prevent miscommunication and signal interest to those around you. Pay attention to your facial expressions and body language when you are speaking with someone in a professional setting. Your nonverbal cues affect the first impression you make on someone. Maintaining eye contact, limiting hand gestures, and having good posture go a long way when meeting someone for the first time.
3. Manage your own emotions. For the sake of clear communication and your own personal wellbeing, it’s important to manage your emotions and express them appropriately in context. Allowing strong emotions to unnecessarily creep into a professional setting can lead to poor communication and conflict.
4. Ask for feedback. There’s no shame in asking for honest feedback on your communication skills from colleagues. Asking your peers or subordinates for their advice on improving your communication skills can help you better understand how you are coming across in your work environment. Cultivate a willingness to seek out other points of view and forge better relationships with your coworkers.
5. Practice public speaking. Public speaking may sound daunting, but there’s no better way to develop good communication skills than by seeking out public speaking opportunities. Great communicators are able to clearly articulate their feelings, whether they’re speaking to a large group or talking face-to-face to one other person. Regularly speaking in front of a group will magnify your strengths and weaknesses and force you to develop great communication habits.
6. Develop a filter. Effective communicators generally have highly developed social skills and are able to modulate how they express their thoughts and feelings to those around them. Know what’s appropriate to express in different interpersonal contexts. Developing a filter will help supplement other communication techniques and ensure that you maintain a certain level of decorum and avoid conflict in the workplace.