BASIC NEGOTIATION SKILLS

This course is designed for people who need to build agreements over resource management issues such as conservation, access to land, building disputes, managing waterways, changing land use practices. We cover methods to problem-solve your way through differences.

This training aims to add to participants’ negotiation skills so that more cooperative agreements are reached and less litigation is needed.

The day includes actively testing a range of practical approaches for application in a wide range of resource management situations.

TOPICS TO BE DISCUSSED:
  • Valuing past negotiation experience - Recognise what has made past negotiations successful or difficult
  • Talking like a negotiator - Approaches negotiators use to build cooperation, participation and a sense of fairness
  • Understanding what people are telling you - What are the messages behind people's words? Look beyond talking to how to really communicate. Understand how we come across to others and how to make the most of each negotiator's contribution
  • Neogitation steps - Techniques to build small agreements at each negotiation step aimed at a final settlement
  • When talks go 'off the rails' - Some approaches to get negotiations back on track

THE COURSE EQUIPS YOU TO DEAL WITH SITUATIONS LIKE:

  • When the council or company has proposed a management plan or strategy and conflict, criticism or complaints need to be resolved
  • Prior to a hearing when seeking common ground and solutions can reduce or resolve the differences
  • When 'meat in the sandwich' between people demanding opposing solutions e.g bus routes, water extraction rates, heritage protection


PRESENTED BY GAY PAVELKA
In private practice since 1996, Gay Pavelka has mediated disputes in a wide range of fields since 1984 and facilitated or mediated public issues and environmental conflicts since 1990. She is a Fellow and Panel member of AMINZ (Arbitrator’s & Mediator’s Institute of New Zealand) and is certified Good Decisions decision-maker. Gay facilitated the South Island Good Decisions team for several years. Gay provides mediation, facilitation and training services to a wide range of clients.