A. Always maintain a sense of decorum, ever when others appear angry, frustrated or disgusted. Your decorum signals your willingness to continue the discussion—but on civil terms.
B. Remain on the lookout for points you and the other person agree on. When negotiations are not going well—even when they seem doomed—agreement on a relatively minor point can often change the tone of the discussion.
C. Let your coworker talk about her problem first. Try to understand her position before you argue your point of view.
D. Don’t let your coworker know fully what you can offer in the negotiation until the discussion progresses further. Save your best negotiating points and concessions for later.
E. Nothing is more frustrating than approaching an individual to help you solve a problem, only to discover that he cannot. Figure out who can help meet your needs, and then decide how best to approach that individual.