Poor Negotiation Skills: Why Managers Struggle to Get Executive Buy-in

Effective negotiation skills are crucial for managers to succeed in their roles. However, many managers struggle with negotiation, which can lead to a lack of executive buy-in when presenting new ideas. This can be frustrating. Here are five points that highlight the consequences of poor negotiation skills:

  1. Failure to Understand Executive Priorities

Managers who fail to negotiate effectively often neglect to understand executive priorities, leading to proposals that don’t align with organizational goals.

Example: A manager presents a new project idea without considering the CEO’s focus on cost-cutting measures, resulting in immediate dismissal.

  1. Inability to Build Consensus

Poor negotiation skills make it challenging for managers to build consensus among stakeholders, leading to a lack of support for their ideas.

Example: A manager fails to address concerns from team members and stakeholders, resulting in a divided opinion and lack of executive buy-in.

  1. Insufficient Data and Preparation

Managers who don’t negotiate effectively often lack the necessary data and preparation to support their ideas, leading to skepticism from executives.

Example: A manager presents a proposal without thorough market research and financial analysis, causing executives to question the idea’s validity.

  1. Poor Communication and Presentation

Ineffective negotiation skills can lead to poor communication and presentation, failing to convince executives of the idea’s value.

Example: A manager uses overly technical language and fails to highlight the benefits of the proposal, leaving executives unimpressed.

  1. Missed Opportunities for Collaboration

Managers who struggle with negotiation miss opportunities for collaboration and partnership with executives, leading to a lack of support and resources.

Example: A manager fails to involve executives in the idea-generation process, resulting in a lack of ownership and support for the proposal.

Poor negotiation skills can significantly hinder a manager’s ability to get executive buy-in for new ideas. By developing effective negotiation skills, managers can better understand executive priorities, build consensus, prepare thorough proposals, communicate effectively, and collaborate with executives to drive success.

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About Sibusiso Nkosi

Seasoned Executive. Board Member. Certified Life Coach (Specializing in Career Coaching).

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