Robert Mnookin: "Bargaining With The Devil"
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2010-03-24/robert-mnookin-bargaining-devil
Author Robert Mnookin
Steven Rubin/courtesy Simon & Schuster
When to bargain and when to fight: the director of a negotiation research project at Harvard University on making wise decisions when confronted with difficult disputes in our personal and professional lives.
Guests
Robert Mnookin
chair of the Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School and director of the Harvard Negotiation Research Project
Comments
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I'm so glad that Mr Mnookin corrected Steve Roberts regarding "Mr Spock" (rather than "Dr Spock"), so that my first comment on the Diane Rehm website wouldn't make me sound like a nerd.
Wait...
This is extremely interesting topic. My question is - Its seems the latest crazy to conflict esp political conflict is to resolve it with coalition governments with a hint of " truth and reconciliation committees". What has been the end product of this setup is the apparent absence of conflict - with no real peace. How does one gauge the success of their mediation efforts once the guns are silent yet resentment simmers within e.g Kenya's Post election violence.
John Njonjo
Churchill refused to negotiate with Gandhi as well. In fact, he even made statements that he will not talk to a half naked fakir and India will gain independence over his dead body. What would be some of the reasons that stopped him from negotiating with Gandhi?
What do you do with these facts in negotiation:
1. Some people are less/more intelligent than others.
2. Some people are interested ONLY in their gain.
3. Some people are interested ONLY in your loss.
I think this is what D.C. is about these days.
Just want to thank the host for cutting off that abusive caller who started out complaining that whites are accused of racism whenever talking about blacks, then proceeded to both admit he was a bigot AND TO PROVE IT! That kind of uncivil "discourse" is precisely what I listen to NPR to avoid, and the host is to be praised for putting a stop to it.
Needless to say, negotiating with someone like that caller is a waste of time. For negotiations to work all parties must be minimally reasonable and rational. He wasn't.
Mr. Roberts, thank you for skillfully handling the inappropraite caller during this morning's show. We all appreciate your good judgement and respectfulness.
I created an account in order to comment on the disturbing comments I heard on my way to work this morning. The caller's racist statement was so misplaced and off topic and unexpected on air while listening to the Diane Rehm Show. It will take some time for me to get over the shock.
It was a pleasure listening to the show this morning. Your guest provided very useful insight into the relationship between emotion and the desire to 'do battle.' Thank you, DR show, for an intelligent, balanced broadcast.
Steve - you're a bigger person than I. The racist caller would have gotten much more commentary from me than your very diplomatic 'excuse me.' Nicely done.
Great decussion, tried to share but did not work please fix, I like to pass the work froward. Thanks