Speaking: Interactive Communication C1 - Lesson 4: Advanced Negotiation & Persuasion Strategies

Speaking: Interactive Communication C1

Advanced Negotiation & Persuasion Strategies

Listen to the negotiation scenario.

What you will learn: By the end of this lesson, you will be able to use C1-level persuasive strategies like framing, anchoring, and principled negotiation to navigate complex discussions and build consensus.

Scenario: The Project Deadline 💬

Listen to a negotiation between Dara (Marketing Manager) and Soriya (CFO). Dara wants to launch a product in Q1, but Soriya is concerned about quality. Notice how Soriya guides the conversation.

Dara: Soriya, we absolutely must launch this by Q1. It's non-negotiable. The market window is now.

Soriya: Dara, I understand the urgency. But let's look at the bigger picture. Our main interest here is a flawless launch that gets 5-star reviews, isn't it?

Dara: Yes, but if we miss the Q1 window, our competitor will beat us.

Soriya: That's a valid concern. Let's assume for a moment we *do* launch in Q1. Given the current QA reports, what's the biggest risk you see?

Dara: ...I suppose a buggy release would be a PR disaster.

Soriya: Exactly. My concern isn't the date itself, it's the reputation. We can't afford a failed launch. What if we did this: we give QA two extra weeks, and in return, I'll approve *doubling* the pre-launch ad budget?

Dara: ...Double the ad budget? Okay, that's interesting. If you can guarantee that, I'm willing to be flexible on a strict Q1 launch. Let's talk about early Q2.

C1 Persuasion Strategies 🛠️ (Click 🔊)

Soriya successfully persuaded Dara by avoiding a direct fight ("No") and using advanced strategies.

1. Re-frame the Goal

Move from a "position" (what you want) to a "principle" (a shared goal).

• "Our main interest here is..."
• "Let's look at the bigger picture..."
• "What we're both trying to achieve is..."

2. Use Leading Questions

Ask questions that guide your partner to your conclusion.

• "Given [this fact], what's the biggest risk you see?"
• "Are we prepared to accept [negative outcome]?"
• "What would happen if we...?"

3. Make Strategic Concessions

Give something valuable to your partner to get what you need.

• "What if we did this: [Your Need], and in return, [Their Benefit]?"
• "I'm willing to be flexible on [X], if we can agree on [Y]."

Fluency Tip

🗣️ The Power of Tentative Language

At C1, sounding *less* direct is often *more* persuasive. It sounds less aggressive and invites collaboration. Don't say "You must."

• Instead of: "We have to delay the launch."
• Try: "It might be wise to reconsider the launch date."

• Instead of: "Your idea is risky."
• Try: "I have some concerns about that approach."

Using words like might, could, perhaps, it seems, and some makes you sound reasonable and harder to argue against.

Practice Your Strategy 🎯

Practice Quiz: What's the Best C1 Strategy?

Read the situation, then choose the *most effective* response. Click "Check Answers" when done.

1. Situation: Your colleague says, "We must use my idea. It's the only way this will work."

Your best response:

• A) "I completely disagree. Your idea won't work."
• B) "That's one option. What's the main *problem* we're both trying to solve here?"
• C) "No, my idea is much better."

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2. Situation: You need to tell your boss you must miss an important deadline. You haven't finished the work.

Your best opening:

• A) "I'm sorry, I can't finish the project on time."
• B) "I know this deadline is crucial. I've hit a bottleneck, and I want to find a solution that still protects the project's quality."
• C) "When is the *real* deadline? This one is impossible."

Key Vocabulary (Click 🔊)

• Non-negotiable (Adjective) | មិនអាចចរចាបាន
  Not open to discussion or modification.
• Framing (Noun) | ការរៀបចំ
  Presenting an idea in a way that influences how others see it.
• Interest (vs. Position) (Noun) | ផលប្រយោជន៍ (ទល់នឹង ជំហរ)
  The underlying *why* you want something (your principle), not just *what* you want (your position).
• Leverage (Noun) | ឥទ្ធិពល
  The power to influence a person or situation to get the result you want.
• Concession (Noun) | ការអនុបទាន
  Something that you agree to give or allow in order to end a disagreement.
• Impasse (Noun) | ភាពទាល់ច្រក
  A situation where no progress is possible; a deadlock.
• Bottleneck (Noun) | ឧបសគ្គ
  A problem that delays progress or stops a process.

Your Mission: The C1 Role-Play ⭐

Your mission is to plan and execute a 1-minute negotiation. Choose one of the scenarios below.

Scenarios:
1. Ask your boss for a 15% raise.
2. Convince your partner/friend to go on a vacation to the mountains (they want the beach).
3. Negotiate with a client to *increase* the project budget because the scope has changed.

Your Task:
Record yourself speaking for 60-90 seconds. You must:

1. Acknowledge their position ("I understand you feel...").
2. Re-frame the discussion around a shared interest ("The most important thing for both of us is...").
3. Use at least one leading question ("What would be the impact if...?").
4. Propose a strategic concession ("If you can do [X], then I'd be willing to [Y].").