Collaboration is a motive in your actions, not a behavior. Most people would express a desire to be collaborative, but when faced with the reality of a negoti- ation situation research shows that they drop into a competitive mindset within five minutes of the start of the negotiation—regardless of the mindset they have entering the negotiation. Collaborative negotiation is the path to higher joint gains. Most people negotiate competitively to be sure that no one takes advantage of them. Why do negotiators think they are at risk of being exploited? It’s because they don’t have a clear idea of their interests, they are too focused on the positions in the negotiation, and they know they will have to give on the positions to achieve an outcome. Collaboration is the process of working with others to find the ways to increase outcomes for all involved.
