Negotiating

English course · B2 · Upper intermediate · 6 short videos

Goal — I can negotiate and disagree diplomatically.

Grammar — Would you be open to…?, What if…?, I'd rather…, softeners (I'm afraid, I understand your concern)

Words — price, concern, open to, campaign, instead of, meet in the middle, fair, deal, compromise, clean the bathroom, dishes

The videos of this unit

The client wants a lower price.

Nora Your price is too high. Can you do twenty percent less?

Mia I understand your concern. Would you be open to a smaller campaign?

Nora Hmm. What would that look like?

Mia Two videos instead of three, for fifteen percent less.

Nora Let's meet in the middle. Three videos, ten percent less.

Mia That sounds fair. Deal.

Useful expression Would you be open to a smaller campaign? — A diplomatic way to suggest another option.

Negotiating with your roommate.

Zoe Can you clean the bathroom this week?

Mia I'd rather not. I did it last week.

Zoe What if I cook dinner every night?

Mia Every night? Now we're talking.

Zoe But you also do the dishes.

Mia Hmm… that's a compromise I can live with.

Useful expression What if I cook dinner every night? — Use “What if…?” to suggest a deal.

Nobody wins everything.

Word compromise /ˈkɒmprəmaɪz/ — An agreement where each person accepts a little less than they wanted.

Correct grammar, wrong tone!

Common mistake ~~You are wrong.~~ → I'm not sure I agree. / I see it a bit differently.

Why: At work, direct words can sound rude in English. Soften your disagreement first, then explain.

Same word. Different feeling.

Word Really? / Really.

Negotiation quiz: 4 questions!