Maintaining wellbeing through stressful negotiations: A Confidentially Speaking webinar with Desi Vlahos
In high-stakes negotiations, stress is almost inevitable. Whether you're navigating complex legal matters or striking a business deal, tension can escalate. How you manage that stress can make all the difference.
In our Confidentially Speaking webinar, Elise Margow and workplace wellbeing expert from Wellceum, Desi Vlahos, discussed the importance of maintaining mental and physical good health through testing situations.
Understanding the stress triggers in negotiations
Negotiations are often intense, especially in legal contexts where deadlines are tight, stakes are high, and adversarial tactics are common. Desi Vlahos, a lawyer and educator, explained these factors can significantly raise stress levels, both mentally and physically.
Desi highlighted how our bodies react to stress with increased cortisol levels, leading to exhaustion, burnout, and even chronic health issues like hypertension. However, not all stress is bad – what's important is recognising when stress moves from motivating "eustress" to harmful "distress."
Combatting the 'combat' approach
Many negotiations still operate with an adversarial mindset, where it's a "winner takes all" situation. This combative approach can be toxic, causing breakdowns in relationships and adding immense pressure on all parties involved.
To combat the combat, Elise and Desi stressed the importance of shifting from adversarial negotiations to more collaborative models. These strategies foster better long-term relationships and reduce the emotional toll on negotiators.
Mediation is a great tool for fostering these types of collaborative discussions, with the assistance of an independent mediator helping parties reach mutually beneficial outcomes without destroying trust.
The role of preparation and emotional resilience
Desi also offered some practical tips for managing stress during negotiations. Preparation is key, not just in terms of the negotiation itself but also mentally and physically.
She said taking time for reflective practice, can help to assess not only the content of the negotiation, but also your emotional state throughout. Are you getting triggered by certain tactics? How does your body react to pressure? These reflective moments allow you to approach negotiations with more emotional awareness and control.
Mindfulness and physical exercise: tools for better negotiations
Desi also highlighted the growing importance of mindfulness and physical well-being in handling stress. Regular physical activity, paired with mindfulness exercises, can lower cortisol levels, improve cognitive function, and even enhance creative problem-solving abilities.
By integrating mindfulness into your daily routine, whether through mindful walking or breathing techniques, you are better equipped to handle the pressures of long negotiations and other stressful situations.
Conclusion: preparing for success
Managing stress in negotiation and mediation isn’t just about keeping your cool, it’s about proactive preparation, emotional resilience, and maintaining physical well-being.
By taking a preventative approach, incorporating mindfulness, and shifting away from a combative mindset, negotiators can achieve better outcomes, while also protecting their mental and physical health.