Conducting Effective Negotiations with Kathleen O’Connor

Human beings are social animals. We love – we need – to communicate. 

But when we don’t agree (which, let’s face it, is all the time!) then it’s the how of communication that matters. 

That’s where negotiation really shines; and in the words of our guest, negotiation is the ultimate problem-solving technology. 

To sharpen up your negotiation skills and really SHIFT your communication impact, you need to listen to this Conversations on Climate episode, with Professor Kathleen O’Connor.

Kathleen is Clinical Professor of Organisational Behaviour at London Business School, where she also directs the Executive Education programme. 

An expert in negotiation and conflict management, she has worked with corporate clients from Deutsche Bank to the World Economic Forum. She personally teaches a Women in Leadership course and is an advocate of gender equality across firms.

 

Here’s a brief rundown of this incredible conversation:

* Understanding the 21st-century technology of negotiation

* Why women don’t need to ‘wait for permission’ in business

* Power imbalances, collusion & climate responsibility – how do we get ‘cooperative  wins’ at COP? 

*Would a more gender-diverse global leadership be better at solving climate? 

*When women do better (and worse) in negotiations

*The secret sauce of becoming an effective negotiator: it’s nothing to do with toughness…

*Impasses at the global level: is a reset necessary to avoid historic spirals? 

*When quotas and meritocracy are complimentary;

*What can allyship mean for climate advocacy, in the face of inequality;

*The SHIFT model of negotiation

'...negotiate more... life really is about negotiating, negotiating not to win, but to better understand where someone else is coming from... ..it's taking another person's perspective, understanding what their interests are, and then using your creativity to come up with something that will work for both of us.And so negotiation not as kind of a bludgeon - bludgeoning the other side to make concessions to you - but really to understand what's at issue in that kind of insight into the other side's interests...what separates really good solutions... sustainable solutions from other kinds of agreements.'

 

REFERENCES:

http://kathleenoconnor.co.uk/

https://www.london.edu/faculty-and-research/faculty-profiles/k/kathleen-oconnor

https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/standing-out-while-fitting-in/

 

Conversations on Climate is a podcast produced by United Renewables in association with the London Business School Energy Alumni Club. 

It brings together the best minds from academia and business, to offer their experience and expertise in the face of climate change –from game theorists to corporate diplomats, and oil industry veterans to micro-algae entrepreneurs. 

For more top-quality interviews with our incredible guests, subscribe to our youtube channel or follow us on twitter. We’d love to have you join us!

Don’t forget to share with your colleagues, friends and family. We would love to hear your opinions and feedback, so please leave your comments on our platforms.

Throughout season 1, we talk about how the scope of the challenge before us is beyond that of any one individual or any one solution. We talk to thinkers, researchers, policymakers, and business leaders. They discuss a diversity of ideas and solutions to global climate and environmental issues and why they matter.

Season 1 is presented by Chris Caldwell and produced by UNITED RENEWABLES in association with LONDON BUSINESS SCHOOL, ALUMNI ENERGY CLUB.

For more information visit: https://www.unitedrenewables.co.uk/resources

Please visit our YouTube channel, where all of our Conversations are available for you to enjoy.

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