Good for You, Great for Me – Winning Negotiations Without Creating Resentment
The Workplace Problem: How Do You Get the Best Deal Without Burning Bridges?
Many people assume that in negotiations, you have to choose between winning for yourself or keeping the other side happy—but what if you could do both?
In the workplace, leaders, HR professionals, and employees must negotiate salaries, promotions, policies, contracts, and conflict resolutions—but too many people settle for weak compromises or push too hard, damaging relationships.
So how do you negotiate strongly while still keeping a good working relationship?
What This Book is About
In Good for You, Great for Me, Lawrence Susskind, a leading negotiation expert at MIT, teaches how to win negotiations without alienating the other side.
The book introduces "the art of trades"—finding ways to get more of what you want while still offering something valuable to the other party.
Key Takeaways for HR and Workplace Leaders
Win-Win Doesn't Always Mean Equal Splits – Effective negotiators don’t just split things down the middle—they create deals that maximize value for both sides.
Identify What Matters Most to the Other Party – Understanding what the other side values most can help you craft deals that give them what they want—while securing what you need.
The Power of “Making Trades” – Instead of conceding, trade something less important to you for something more important.
Don’t Reveal Your Bottom Line Too Soon – The longer you hold your position, the more leverage you maintain in the negotiation.
Use "Negotiation Jujitsu" to Handle Tough Opponents – If someone pushes too hard, redirect the conversation toward mutual gains rather than pushing back.
Workplace Tools and Models from the Book
The "Better Deal" Formula – Instead of fighting over a single issue, expand the conversation by introducing more variables to trade.
The "High-Value, Low-Cost" Strategy – Offer things that cost you little but mean a lot to the other side.
The "Avoiding False Compromise" Rule – Some agreements aren’t worth making—learn to walk away when necessary.
The "Multi-Issue Package Deal" – Instead of haggling over one issue at a time, bundle multiple factors into a package deal to find win-win outcomes.
Why This Matters for HR and Workplace Leaders
HR professionals and executives negotiate constantly, whether it’s:
✔ Salary and compensation discussions
✔ Creating workplace policies that work for both leadership and employees
✔ Mediating disputes between employees or teams
✔ Negotiating contracts with vendors or external partners
How This Connects to Workplace Assessments and Restorations
Many workplace assessments reveal frustration with rigid, "zero-sum" negotiations, such as:
Employees feeling shortchanged in salary talks.
Managers struggling to get leadership buy-in on key initiatives.
Departments battling over budget allocations instead of collaborating.
By applying Good for You, Great for Me principles, HR leaders can help organizations shift from confrontational negotiations to creative, value-based solutions.
How Can You Apply This?
➡️ Are workplace negotiations stuck in a "win-lose" mindset?
➡️ Do employees or managers feel like they’re constantly giving up too much?
Learning how to maximize value for both sides can transform negotiations from battles into solutions.
Where to Buy
Interested in reading Good for You, Great for Me? You can purchase it here:
📚 Amazon
📚 Lawrence Susskind’s Official Site
