Negotiating the Sweet Spot: The Art of Leaving Nothing on the Table

Prof Thompson is an incredibly gifted academic. Her research, teaching and coaching in the newer science of negotiation should be on everyone’s reading list. Not just business people negotiate. Her style is easy to read.

Some useful tips:+ don't say you are angry, say you are disappointed. Anger invites anger in response.+ transform your distrust or suspicion into intense curiosity - assume the other person is telling the truth, what do they know that you don't. It may be likely that the counter party is lying but responding with curiosity will allow you to learn more and find a good deal in situations where they are not.+ once you have reached an initial agreement, spend a little time jointly brainstorming ways you might improve it. A little of those goes a long way and it risks the deal if it looks like nibbling or going back on a handshake.Author focuses on "Pareto optimal deals" which is fine in theory but may risk losing a good deal in the hunt for a perfect one. Written while she was convalescing from a serious accident it reads more like a scrapbook of negotiating "hacks" that caught her fancy than a coherent perspective on negotiation.

I enjoyed Leigh’s book because of the practicality. Many people don’t need the detailed strategic approaches MBA candidates are looking for but want tools to be more effective when it comes to buying a home, car or getting a raise. The hacks that Leigh shares give the reader simple ideas that can be put into practice with a little forethought and practice. I also appreciate that Leigh’s insights are based on research. If you want to better your negotiating skills, pick up a copy of Negotiating the Sweet Spot.

The writer tries to put on a new spin on the subject of negotiating. The result in an underwhelming book.For one there are tooooo many "hacks" . How do expect the reader to remember all that information. All those hacks which a lot were just "fluff"Some good points, but this book frankly is just a failed attempt of trying to add content to an old but evolving subject. There are better books out there.

I didn't realize, until I read this book (by a professor who teaches this material at Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management) how poorly I was negotiating. I left SO MUCH on the table: 1) because I didn't have a good in-going strategy (which the author, Thompson, talks about right away - 'having a big picture mindset') and 2) because I felt like negotiating was 'dirty.' What I found so useful about this book was how clear it was - there are key steps you can take to improve your negotiating position, and right away. (Thompson has these useful 'negotiation hacks' that you can apply to help yourself in a tangible way.) I highly recommend this and only with I'd have read it a long time ago.

Honestly, having been in sales for many years and done a lot of negotiations and also attended training on this subject, I started with an entrenched view of how different it could be but that has changed now. This book by Dr. Leigh Thompson is a fresh breath of air on this age-old topic. It's backed by research and she has kept it very simple with both personal and business anecdotes that are very relevant. So, I definitely recommend this book to everyone who wants to get a brand new perspective on negotiations and improve their skills.

Leigh Thompson's hacks for optimizing negotiations are a window into the simply sublime. Her pragmatic, research-based insights are a godsend for results in business and personal life. I have had the privilege of watching Leigh help hundreds of executives reshape their approach to negotiations and leadership in ways that benefit all. Buy it, read it, and enjoy the benefits today.

While clearly targeting a business audience (and doing so quite well), this book covers the full spectrum of personal interaction. Most importantly-the hacks are focused enough to be effective while being simple to try, examine, improve, and try again. Think of it as a workout plan to develop peak interpersonal action muscles!

First 30 pages are just babbling, followed by a list of "hacks" which are meant to be quick and easy applications of research findings to the world of negotiations. The babbling is quite bad and hard to read, not enjoyable. While reading it, kept asking myself, what are you getting at, why are you telling the reader this? Frustrating read, especially since it seems to be marketed as a practical book.Feel like it was rushed to press. So many other better negotiation books out there.

The book Is interesting and well written! The approach on how to use negotiation hacks in every day life is very good and useful. Professor Leigh Thompson explains very well each concept and how to apply them to reach the sweet spot! Highly recommended.