It goes without saying that negotiation skills are an essential part of life, whether it be in personal or professional settings.

Being able to effectively negotiate can help you achieve your goals and make mutually beneficial agreements with others.

It is an enviable skill and one that we actually start to learn from about the age of 2 ... but I remember my first real negotiation lesson when I was about 11.

I was very fortunate because my father was also a negotiation trainer (so cool!).

Anyway, I was practicing my negotiation skills with him and I was so focused on what I was doing that I kept my head down, reading my notes, adding comments which meant I wasn't looking up.

I was confident in my abilities and thought I had everything under control.

.... However, after we finished, my father showed me the video we'd recorded during our negotiation, and it was then that I realized my mistake.

As I watched the video, I saw my father pulling faces and making gestures that I hadn't noticed during our discussion.

He explained to me that observing the other party is a crucial part of negotiation and by paying attention to their body language and other non-verbal cues, you can gain valuable insights into their thoughts and emotions.

These insights can help you adjust your approach and achieve a more successful outcome.

My dad's lesson in negotiation skills has stuck with me ever since that day.

I learned that negotiation is not just about what you say but also how you listen and observe.

Being aware of the other party's reactions and emotions can help you adapt your approach and build rapport. It can also help you anticipate potential roadblocks and find creative solutions to overcome them.

Negotiating skills are an important part of life, and observing the other party is crucial to a successful negotiation because if you don't ... someone might be pulling faces at you too!