prenegotiation
Pre-deal discussion phase
Prenegotiation refers to discussions or activities that occur before formal negotiations begin.
This preliminary phase establishes ground rules, identifies participants, sets agendas, or determines whether substantive talks should proceed at all: The prenegotiation phase took months before the parties agreed to sit down together.
Common in diplomacy, labor relations, and complex business deals.
Sensory touch organs
- probingThoroughly investigating something
- informalRelaxed, not official
- preliminaryBefore the main part
- tentativeUncertain and provisional
nonbinding · trial-balloon · back-channel · reconnaissance · overture · icebreaker · rapport-building · trust-building
Covert diplomatic route
- envoyAccredited diplomatic representative
- summitPeak or diplomatic gathering
- détenteEasing of strained relations
- bilateralInvolving two parties
multilateral · goodwill · rapprochement · dialogue · protocol · treaty · mediation · conciliation
Arranging in specific locations
- leverageBorrowed capital for amplified returns
- interestsWhat engages or benefits
- objectivesIntended targets or ends
- tacticsMethods to achieve goals
BATNA · trade-offs · concessions · alignment · prioritization · contingency · signaling · anchoring
Foundational preparation for something
- researchSystematic fact-finding effort
- briefingConcise information session
- agenda-settingControlling which issues dominate
- fact-findingSeeking verified information
dossier · intelligence · contextualizing · team-building · coordination · homework · vetting
feelers
Sensory touch organs
- probingThoroughly investigating something
- informalRelaxed, not official
- preliminaryBefore the main part
tentative · nonbinding · trial-balloon · back-channel · reconnaissance · overture · icebreaker · rapport-building · trust-building · unofficial
back-channel
Covert diplomatic route
- envoyAccredited diplomatic representative
- summitPeak or diplomatic gathering
- détenteEasing of strained relations
bilateral · multilateral · goodwill · rapprochement · dialogue · protocol · treaty · mediation · conciliation · statecraft
positioning
Arranging in specific locations
- leverageBorrowed capital for amplified returns
- interestsWhat engages or benefits
- objectivesIntended targets or ends
tactics · BATNA · trade-offs · concessions · alignment · prioritization · contingency · signaling · anchoring
groundwork
Foundational preparation for something
- researchSystematic fact-finding effort
- briefingConcise information session
- agenda-settingControlling which issues dominate
fact-finding · dossier · intelligence · contextualizing · team-building · coordination · homework · vetting
prenegotiationnegotiation
Discussion seeking mutual accord
aftermath · follow-through · implementation · finalization · ratification
negotiate, negotiation, negotiator, negotiating, negotiations, negotiable, negotiated, nonnegotiable, negotiators