LSE Negotiation Programme: Module 1 Unit 3 Personal Development Plan

This assignment is a personal development plan for a student enrolled in a negotiation course at the London School of Economics (LSE). The student reflects on their strengths and weaknesses in negotiation, identifying research as a key strength and under-aspiring as a weakness. They detail their reasons for taking the course, aiming to understand effective negotiation processes, strategies, and terminology. The student outlines their general approach to negotiation, emphasizing a win-win strategy and mutual problem-solving. They also specify their goals for the course, which include acquiring knowledge, skills, and the ability to interact effectively with opponents during negotiations. Finally, the student explains how they plan to use the course terminology in planning and expresses the importance of applying learned concepts to real-life situations. The plan includes references to relevant academic sources.

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Name
Professor
Course
Date
1.1 In terms of negotiation, what do you consider your strengths?
Conducting research is my strength because it will enable me to get all possible points
that my opponent may challenge me. It lets me plan on how to test my opponent’s points. In
understanding the side of the opponent facts, I will gather more strength on how to handle any
possible challenging arguments1. Besides, I need to know what I require based on available
resources. Also, I will have to understand the interest of my opponent based on the resources
available. I will analysis the points that I will use to challenge my opponent during the
negotiation. It will enable me to understand the outcomes of the negotiations. Also, following
the objective of the negotiations will allow me to gather the relevant information to present.
1.2 In terms of negotiation, what do you consider your weaknesses?
In negotiation, under aspiring my opponent is my weakness. Sometimes setting my
targets too low can lead to defeat in the negotiations. In this case, the opponent may have sharp
points overweighing mine. In this situation, my points will be weak and will not contribute much
on negotiation. Also, the over aspiration of the opponents is another weakness because it will
hinder me from negotiating effectively. There will be much egocentrism in this negotiation, and
1 Y. Arakawa., Zen Painting, trans. J. Bester, Tokyo, The impact of consideration of issues and motivational orientation on group
negotiation process and outcome, 2010.p.57-123.

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it will result in conflicts. Lastly, an unclear understanding of the point to defend my facts is
another weakness considered in the negation process2. It will give the opponent a chance to
defeat because he/she will know that I am not sure about my points. Assuming the relevance of
my point will make me argue out of the topic. It is essential to understand the significance of my
points words the subject of negotiations.
1.3 Why did you decide to take this course?
I decided to take this course to understand the concept and requirements for an effective
negotiation process. In the study of this course, I will be equipped with the skills and knowledge
on how to handle various issues through negotiation. I have been able to understand multiple
things to do before getting into negotiations. Besides, I have been able to understand my
strengths and weaknesses. In addition to this, I decided to take this course to know various steps
that I should focus on before getting into the negotiation process. Also, the study of the course
has equipped me with the strategies that I should do to defeat my opponent during negotiation.
The course will enable me to have the capacity to evaluate how relevant my argument will be
towards what is negotiated. Besides, the course will equip me with skills on how to negotiate
peacefully.
1.4 What is your general approach to negotiation?
My general approach to negotiation is to gain the advantage by understanding the
information that will be overdoing my opponent. I believe in a win-win strategy because it will
enable me to achieve what I wanted in the negotiation for satisfactory to both parties. The
strategic approach in the talks is cooperation as well as the sharing of the information. My
2 A. Blackledge. and A. Creese, Testing competing models of the leisure constraint negotiation process in a corporate employee
recreation setting: a Critical Perspective, London, Continuum, 2010.p. 54-89.

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approach in negotiation is to reach a point where the problem or the issue negotiated is achieved
through mutual solving. In addition to this, I will allow my opponents to present their positions
without any disruption. I think this will be a better way to resolve the issue under negotiation.
My approach here is to pay much attention to the points given by the opponents during the
negation so as weigh and understand the facts about them3. I think by so doing the issue
negotiated will be well analyzed, and the solution obtained.
1.5 What are your goals for this course?
My goals in this course are gain the knowledge and skills required in the negotiation
process. I am aiming at understanding the concepts needed before, during and at the end, the
negotiation process. Moreover, my goals in this course are to acquire the skills required for
carrying out a peaceful and production negotiation process. In line with this, my main goals are
to learn the skills that will enable me to interact with my opponent mutually when negotiating
something. Besides, my goal is to understand how to negotiate with my opponents regarding any
issue. Also, I aim to get the skills required for the peaceful negotiation process. My main
objectives are to know how to negotiate with my opponents regarding any issue. I addition, I
would like to know how to approach my opponents during the negotiation process. I opt to
understand the side of my opponents by getting the skills on how to do so.
1.6 How are you going to use the terminology taught in this module in your planning?
In my planning, I will use the terminology taught in the module to gather the facts and
meaning of such words. I will not only apply the language taught in this course but also studied
and understood their meaning. I will have to follow the purpose of the terms before applying
them anywhere. I will review them; get their sense to know where appropriate to use them. By
3 A. Kring. et al., Negotiation analysis, 11th edn., Hoboken, NJ, John Wiley & Sons, 2010. P.6-12

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applying the terminologies used in the module, I think my facts will be more potent and
convincing. I will use the terms taught in this module to answer any question asked by my
opponent4. I will apply the terminologies to express my opinions regarding any issue affecting
our life. I think the terminologies taught in this course are relevant to solve any problems arising
in real life situations. Lastly, I will use the terminologies taught in the course to interact well
with all opponents engaged within a negotiation.
4 S. Ratnagar., Conflict and negotiation processes in organizations, New Delhi, Oxford University Press, 2014.p.78-87

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References
Arakawa, Y., Zen Painting, trans. J. Bester, Tokyo, The impact of consideration of issues and
motivational orientation on group negotiation process and outcome, 2010.p.57-123.
Blackledge, A. and A. Creese, Testing competing models of the leisure constraint negotiation
process in a corporate employee recreation setting: a Critical Perspective, London,
Continuum, 2010.p. 54-89
Kring, A. et al., Negotiation analysis, 11th edn., Hoboken, NJ, John Wiley & Sons, 2010. P.6-12
Ratnagar, S., Conflict and negotiation processes in organizations, New Delhi, Oxford
University Press, 2014.p.78-87