The Agreement and Flexibility Box

In a conflict, people's positions may seem irreconcilable, but there is often common ground that can be found through negotiation.

The concept of the "Agreement Box" is a negotiation tool that illustrates this point.

The Agreement Box Concept

The Agreement Box represents the area of overlap between two people's positions in a conflict.

In a conflict, each person has an extreme position about what they want, but they also have a minimum point that they would settle for.

The Agreement Box is the area between these two minimum points. Any solution that falls within this box will be acceptable to both parties.

The goal of negotiation is not for one person to win and the other to lose, but for both parties to work together to find a solution within this box.

Negotiation and Flexibility

To be successful in negotiation, it helps to know what the other person wants and what they are willing to settle for.

Flexibility is key in this process, as both parties must be willing to move from their extreme positions.

The trick to negotiation is to get the other party closer to your position than you are closer to theirs.

An agreement within the Agreement Box often achieves a win-win solution, as both parties are satisfied with the outcome.

Summary

In a conflict, positions may seem