| This is an area in which many people have fairly | | | | one to one. In the case of a problem with a |
| little experience before their student years. For | | | | letting agent, for instance, your first approach |
| the first time you are a part of a community in | | | | might be by telephone, your second by e-mail and |
| which you play an adult and engaged role. As an | | | | your third by letter - or that process might be |
| academic you are in a position to change minds, | | | | reversed depending on your relationship and the |
| and as a member of a university you are entitled | | | | matter at hand. The advantage of written |
| to make your views known. Besides this, you will | | | | communication is that records are easier to |
| probably have more to do with letting agents, | | | | maintain, and certainly any formal complaint should |
| landlords, banks and businesses than ever before, | | | | be written and copies retained - as well as sent to |
| and may even choose to involve yourself in the | | | | people who may be in a position to help resolve a |
| logistical aspect of organising student union and | | | | dispute. In the example of the letting agent, this |
| society events like balls, parties, plays and so on | | | | might include your student union's housing officer, |
| which will require some confidence as a negotiator. | | | | a welfare officer attached to the university, or |
| Whatever the context, the cardinal rule is to | | | | even your local council. Dispute is best avoided, |
| remain civil and respectful. However successful or | | | | however, and it's worth trying to resolve things |
| otherwise your negotiations may prove to be, it's | | | | amicably before matters come to a head. That |
| important not to burn bridges: you can maintain a | | | | said, sometimes negotiations do break down and |
| strong negotiation position without upsetting or | | | | you may be forced to assume a posture which is |
| provoking other people. The thing to remember is | | | | adversarial, in which case be doubly sure of your |
| that in a negotiation both sides want something - | | | | ground and continue to conduct all your |
| and all too often you may find yourself up against | | | | correspondence and conversations respectfully |
| someone who just wants a quiet life and is | | | | and politely. By placing yourself above reproach in |
| prepared to interfere to a great extent in your | | | | this way you stand a better chance of carrying |
| plans in order to get one. This can be frustrating, | | | | wider support for your position, and if nothing else |
| and the trick is to maintain your cool. Don't be | | | | you make friends for the future. It is never |
| afraid to be persistent, but try also the be fair - if | | | | enjoyable losing an argument, but it is worse |
| people feel that you are genuinely engaged in | | | | when it leads to a feud or a breakdown in |
| trying to see things from their perspective and | | | | communications - the end of a negotiation, from |
| are willing to make some allowance and give them | | | | which point it is often difficult to make progress. |
| some time to come round to your way of | | | | Be polite, be respectful, be firm, and be flexible as |
| thinking that can help a lot. Occasionally you will | | | | and where you can. By making some concessions |
| run up against someone or something so stubborn | | | | on your part you will encourage your counterpart |
| you have to find a way to work around them, | | | | to do likewise, and this may ultimately allow you |
| and particularly in cases like this the ideal is to be | | | | both to progress. Many negotiations will be |
| as frank and open as possible without offending | | | | ongoing - lasting the length of time you rent the |
| anyone. Students are often seen as querulous, | | | | house, for instance, in the case of the letting |
| and this rarely works in their favour. If you can | | | | agent; or the length of time you serve on a |
| show yourself not to conform to this stereotype, | | | | committee etc. By treating your counterpart and |
| however, that may go a long way towards | | | | his or her position with respect you lay the |
| helping you plead your case. | | | | groundwork for a profitable, if occasionally |
| Negotiations need not necessarily be conducted | | | | fraught, relationship on both sides. |