29 Nov. Negotiation Skills Training in Singapore and 5 Very Useful Tips When Negotiating a Deal With Singaporeans
Singapore is the city of superlatives in Asia: it is not only one of the most expensive cities in the world, but also one of the most modern and cleanest. In Singapore, numerous sights and highlights, architecture of a special kind and lots of trends await tourists and businesspeople.When I delivered negotiations skills trainings in August for a multinational company in Oil and Gas, I soon realized that the primary Singaporean negotiation style is competitive. Nevertheless, Singaporeans value long-term relationships in business. They respect hard bargainers if they avoid creating direct conflict. Both sides nearly always remain friendly throughout the whole negotiation. At the same time an attempt to win competitive advantages will not be taken negatively.
Bring time! Business negotiations usually happen at a slow pace and patience may be necessary and helpful. Singaporeans are non-confrontational. As part of an indirect communication style, they will not overtly say “no”; likewise, their “yes” does not always signify agreement, sometimes it’s just a “maybe”.
Here are five useful tips to keep in mind when negotiating a deal in Singapore
- Don't get even, don’t get mad: Never be aggressive or confrontational.
- Try to make the pie bigger: Focus on getting a win–win outcome.
- Learn to read between the lines: Understand the real meaning behind "Yes" and "Maybe”.
- Be flexible and creative: Tailor your approach to suit individual needs.
- Help them write their victory speech: Always allow some room for bargaining.
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