Humans utilize various negotiation strategies in their daily life activities. People engage in negotiation strategies when settling issues, purchasing items, and satisfying their needs and wants (Brett & Thompson, 2016). Negotiations involve the interaction between two or more people using effective communication during the process. People may also apply biblical principles to guide the negotiation process. The Bible is a highly revered book since it contains Christian religious principles that provide guidance. It reflects on man's life and seeks to provide a positive direction to ethically engage in various activities. This paper analyzes the aggressive negotiation strategy and applies a biblical critique of the negotiation style. Besides, the paper compares the biblical principle and theoretical concepts of the negotiation strategy.
The aggressive negotiation strategy involves the use of threats and arguments to achieve satisfaction over an opponent. Some people consider the aggressive negotiation strategy exploitive and can escalate problems. However, others think it is the most effective negotiation strategy to engage with powerful retailers and tough individuals. Aggressive negotiators confront other negotiators into submission. Retailers view aggressive negotiators as bullies. They apply their scare tactics to make people give in to their demands (Brett and Thompson, 2016). This approach favors aggressive negotiators and helps them satisfy their needs and wants in the shortest time possible. Although some people become aggressive either by accident or being in a state of self-awareness, aggressive negotiators become angry and confronting when they want something immediately. Researchers have noticed that aggressive negotiation tactics cannot deliver effective decision-making and problem-solving approaches (Jandt, 2016). This scenario occurs due to misunderstandings that arise during the negotiation process. A group of people using the aggressive negotiation strategy may fail to achieve their goals due to the other party's confrontations and intimidation.
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Aggressive negotiators use phony arguments, threats, and positional commitments to achieve a concession from the other person (Brett & Thompson, 2016; Jandt, 2016). Negotiations should be peaceful and systematic to allow people to submit their views and make appropriate decisions. However, aggressive negotiation tactics lack the aspect of peace and systematic analysis of people's opinions. Aggressive negotiators are self-centred and attention seekers. They enjoy being the dominant group during the negotiation process. Aggressive negotiators turnoff their social controls and engage in arguments, which forces others into submission. Aggressive negotiators want to win during a negotiation process. It is their nature to satisfy their needs and wants quickly, making them engage in confrontations (Brett & Thompson, 2016).
Individuals can stop aggressive negotiations by pointing out the problem to the person. Such individuals can reply with subtle statements that make the aggressive negotiator back off. If aggressive negotiators are not stopped, the goal of problem-solving will not be achieved. Conflicts will also escalate since they tend to argue and make positional commitments during negotiations. Thus, people can avoid aggressive negotiations because they rarely lead to positive outcomes (Jandt, 2016). Effective negotiation requires that both parties benefit in a particular way. However, during aggressive negotiations, only the dominant party benefits from the process, leaving the other hopeless.
Biblical Critique
As a revered religious text, the Bible plays a functional role in guiding people by providing them with ethical principles to engage in various activities. Though the Bible does not explore much on negotiations, certain principles can provide man with guidance when engaging in negotiations. Firstly, the Bible wants man to be just when engaging in all activities. Psalm 112:5 posits that "Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice" (King James Version). This chapter suggests that people should practice justice in everything they perform. In this context, justice means doing what is right. This verse seeks to correct aggressive negotiators that confrontations and intimidations during negotiations are unethical, and they should desist from it. Secondly, the Bible want people to be kind to each other. Mathew 7:12 mentions that "so in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets" (King James Version).
Aggressive negotiators should avoid using threats and intimidation towards others since they would also not like it if others handle them in the same way. They should negotiate in peace and understand each other's opinions to arrive at an amicable solution. Philippians 2:3 also opines peaceful negotiations when it cautions man from doing things out of "vain conceit and self-ambition," but rather by humility and raising others (King James Version). Besides, the Bible educates man to make plans before engaging in any activity. Luke 14:28 mentions that before a person builds a tower, they should estimate the cost and evaluate if the money is enough to complete the project (King James Version). This exhibits that people should engage in negotiations after evaluating the strategic steps to achieve successful negotiations. Unlike aggressive negotiations, which involve threats and arguments, effective negotiations are peaceful, slow and parties understand each other's opinions to benefit from the process.
Comparison between Biblical principles and theoretical concepts on the Aggressive Negotiation Strategy
Differences
Based on theoretical principles, in the aggressive negotiation strategy, negotiators use threats and intimidation to achieve what they want. In contrast, Biblical principles encourage people to engage in fair treatment; hence, it criticizes negotiations that involve threats and intimidation. Secondly, theoretical concepts suggest that aggressive negotiations involve exploitation and confrontations. Contrary to this, Biblical texts mention that people need to be generous and conduct business with justice; hence, it criticizes unfair treatment when engaging with others. Lastly, theoretical concepts suggest that aggressive negotiators use scare tactics to confront and force others into submission. In contrast, the Bible suggests that people should avoid doing things out of vain conceit or self-ambition.
Similarities
Theoretical concepts suggest that aggressive negotiations cannot drive problem-solving negotiations since it escalates conflicts between parties; hence, negotiators should develop plans to deliver successful decision-making. Similarly, the Bible records that people should make adequate plans before engaging in an activity. This enables them to know whether they will succeed or not
The Biblical Principle's Effect on the Aggressive Negotiation Strategy
Because biblical principles advocate for ethical conduct during negotiations, aggressive negotiators will avoid the use of threats, phony arguments, and confrontations when engaging with others. The aggressive negotiations will no longer be "aggressive" when Biblical principles are adopted. Instead, negotiators will practice humility and justice to ensure that both parties are satisfied with the process's outcome. Biblical principles will make negotiations peaceful and free from aspects of self-ambitions and positional commitments. Negotiators will practice justice to satisfy every individual. Finally, negotiators will plan before engaging in negotiations. This would help them achieve positive outcomes from the negotiation process.
Theoretical Principles
Biblical Principles
Venn Diagram
Both
Fair treatment and discourages the use of threats and intimidation.
Deal in justice and practice generosity.
Avoid doing things out of vain conceit or self-ambition.
People should plan and brainstorm the best strategies to apply before making decisions.
The use of threats and intimidation.
Exploitation and confrontations.
The use of scare tactics to force others into submission.
References
Brett, J., & Thompson, L. (2016). Negotiation. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 136, 68-79.
Jandt, F. E. (2016). Conflict and communication. SAGE Publications.
King James Bible. Retrieved from https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/
