The Negotiation Skills Company -- Newsletter January 2009
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The occasional newsletter of
The Negotiation Skills Company, Inc. (TNSC)
Number 43, January 2009
FIGHTING FIRES WITHOUT BURNING BRIDGES(sm)
The occasional newsletter of The Negotiation Skills Company, Inc. (TNSC)
Memorial Edition
MARSHA VAUGHAN 1943-2009
Negotiation is very much a 'people' activity. Machines may be
utilized as tools to carry forward the negotiation process - but the
communication, collaboration, and decision-making are all the
province of human beings.
Relationships are crucial as people negotiate. It is critical to
understand the nature of the relationship between negotiators, their
constituents, and other interested parties. Moreover, as negotiators
representing different parties deal with each other, they must
understand the relationships of the parties and the degree to which
relationship issues complicate - or simplify the negotiation process.
For seven years The Negotiation Skills Company was blessed with
the involvement of Marsha Vaughan, whose title Vice President of
Marketing barely touched the extent of her involvement in every
activity of our team. Marsha's relationships with TNSC's clients,
suppliers, and trainers improved all of those interactions. She
developed methodology and used her organizational skills to add
value to the entire process and all the work we do.
Marsha Vaughan died on January 2nd after a valiant battle with
cancers that invaded her body, but never had a chance against her
spirit, her sense of humor, or her capacity to empathize with others.
Towards the end of her life I brought my laptop to her room in the
hospice with photos and videos from clients as well as members of
TNSC's training team who wanted to say hello - and good-bye.
Marsha looked at me and asked, "What kind of crazy person brings a
laptop to the bedside of a dying woman?" As she looked at the
photos and videos, there were tears in her eyes reflecting the
profound emotion of feeling so appreciated.
One of the strengths Marsha brought to TNSC was her understanding
of the value of preparation. As her body battled the cancer, she
focused on planning her funeral. She found that preparation was
another way of prolonging her sense of being alive, of being in charge
of something.
TNSC lost Marsha's day-to-day presence in December 2007 - when
she stopped work to focus on her treatment and her family. But she
remained actively interested in our work through 2008.
This newsletter is not our usual discussion of the negotiation process
- yet the way Marsha negotiated with her health and her life is a
lesson for us all.
We will miss her enormously.
Final Word
Eleanor Roosevelt wrote:
Many people will walk in and out of your life,
But only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.
To handle yourself, use your head;
To handle others, use your heart.
Steve
Steven P. Cohen, President
The Negotiation Skills Company, Inc.
tnsc@negotiationskills.com
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