THE GOLDEN RULES OF NEGOTIATING The art of negotiating is a difficult skill for most of us, even good salespeople. Hereare three golden rules for you to follow：1. ALWAYS START THE NEGOTIATIONS.You must initiate the process. This is because whoever controls the start of thenegotiations tends to control where they end. If you let the other party start negotiations,you will be constantly giving up control, often without even realizing it. For instance, whenyou ask someone what his project budget is, you are allowing him to start the negotiations.You will then spend your time chasing his number rather than finding the best solution. So,never let the other party control the negotiations.2. ALWAYS NEGOTIATE IN WRITING.The purpose of negotiations is to arrive at a formal written agreement, not tell a storyor spend time talking. From the first moment you begin a proposal, you should create a documentand take it to the client. It will include all the points of agreement and become real to theprospective customer. Negotiating first and then having to create a document adds unnecessarytime to a transaction. But if you build your written agreement as you negotiate, you are preparedto ask for a signature the moment the decision to buy is made.3. ALWAYS STAY COOL.The negotiation table can be loaded with agendas, egos and emotions. Great negotiatorsknow how to stay cool, providing leadership and solutions, while the rest of the room becomesinsanely invested in personal agendas and useless emotions. Crying, getting angry and blowingoff steam may make you feel good, but such behavior will not benefit you while negotiating.When the rest of the room gets emotional, stay cool and use logic to negotiate and close. 1. If you let the other party start negotiations, you will be completely grasp the control,often without even realizing it.