BATNA
Best backup plan
BATNA is an acronym for Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement—the most favorable outcome you can achieve if negotiations fail.
Knowing your BATNA gives you leverage: if the deal on the table is worse than your alternative, you walk away.
Their BATNA was strong, so they could afford to hold out for better terms.
Effortless, one-sided triumph
- bottom lineEssential point or conclusion
- thresholdPoint of beginning
- benchmarkStandard for comparison
- baselineStandard for comparison
fallback position · plan B · contingency · backup plan · safety net · exit strategy · dealbreaker
Negotiating mutually acceptable terms
- mediationIntervention to resolve conflict
- arbitrationNon-court binding dispute resolution
- deal-makingNegotiating agreements between parties
- settlementResolved dispute or colony
dispute resolution · compromise · concession · counterparty · impasse · deadlock · stalemate · walkaway
Advantage in negotiations
- upper handPosition of control
- advantageFavorable position or circumstance
- positionLocation or stance
- cloutInformal power or punch
influence · pressure · assertiveness · credibility · confidence · empowerment · standing · footing
Arranging things in advance
- assessmentFormal evaluation of worth
- analysisMethodical study of parts
- evaluationDetermining worth or quality
- planningArranging for future events
calculation · comparison · prioritization · due diligence · research · valuation · risk assessment · contingency planning
walkaway
Effortless, one-sided triumph
- bottom lineEssential point or conclusion
- thresholdPoint of beginning
- benchmarkStandard for comparison
baseline · fallback position · plan B · contingency · backup plan · safety net · exit strategy · dealbreaker
bargaining
Negotiating mutually acceptable terms
- mediationIntervention to resolve conflict
- arbitrationNon-court binding dispute resolution
- deal-makingNegotiating agreements between parties
settlement · dispute resolution · compromise · concession · counterparty · impasse · deadlock · stalemate · walkaway · anchor
bargaining power
Advantage in negotiations
- upper handPosition of control
- advantageFavorable position or circumstance
- positionLocation or stance
clout · influence · pressure · assertiveness · credibility · confidence · empowerment · standing · footing · muscle
preparation
Arranging things in advance
- assessmentFormal evaluation of worth
- analysisMethodical study of parts
- evaluationDetermining worth or quality
planning · calculation · comparison · prioritization · due diligence · research · valuation · risk assessment · contingency planning
- negotiationbargaining, bargain, negotiate, mediation, compromise
- Dealmakingdeal, negotiator, bargaining, offer, counteroffer
- Negotiation Termsdeadlock, bargaining, negotiation, stalemate, compromise
- negotiationsbargaining, offer, counteroffer, counter offer, compromise
- mediation skillsactive listening, empathy, neutrality, negotiation, de-escalation
- salary negotiationsalary, raise, counteroffer, base salary, pay raise