Negotiation Culture Programme

Negotiation Culture Programme has started as an initiative in Turkey in 2017 and developed further in 2018 with the leadership of Deniz Kite Güner, Founder of Negotiators Society and sponsorship of Ms.Leyla Alaton, CEO of Alvimedica. Between 21st June 2018 and March 2019, the programme trained and mentored 93 business people, lawyers, entrepreneurs, NGO leaders, and academicians.

The initiative is now spreading around the globe with the inclusion of Brazil, Kyrgyzstan, Cyprus, and Azerbaijan.

Why did we start the Negotiation Culture Programme?

Since the beginning of the 1990s, the world is going through a saddening polarization where either because of religion or nationality, people kill one another. The hate speech, at any level relation, became a regular act. Economic and social welfare, as well the environmental issues rose up as they have never been. Violence against women and child abuse is one of the most important issues almost in every country. Migration is a global tragedy that every day, many innocent people die.

Those global issues affect every relation at any level and any communication or discussion at any scale. They change our values, increase our intolerance, and keep us unconnected to our needs and human nature. The gunmen shootings, in New Zealand and the Netherlands in March 2019, are two very unfortunate experiences we had. Can we deny the fact that these gunmen were deeply affected by all the hate speech around them? Can we consider that if they had an opportunity to get closer to the people they shot, maybe knowing them better, these shooting would have never happened?

According to an article published in Forbes, workplace bullying is frighteningly common and takes an enormous toll on our businesses. Research from Dr.Judy Blando (University of Phoenix) has proven that almost 75% of employees surveyed had been affected by workplace bullying, whether as a target or a witness.

Samples vary at any level of relationship and in any country.

Human intelligence is able to create genetical wonders or find ways to go to the Moon, yet to discuss differences, to negotiate when there is an issue to be solved, to respect each other or have effective dialogues are the skills we all need to get or improve for good.

Either we shall learn to negotiate at every level, or we shall kill another as it is one said, “eye for an eye, we all got blind”!

And truly, who doesn’t want a sustainable business or a peaceful country or an effective team at work, and an inspiring community to live in?

We all bargain issues, yet we all need to develop our negotiation skills.

Of course, since our childhood, we have been bargaining either with our family members or friends, colleagues or neighbours, and other companies to have our needs met. Even countries negotiate many issues to be solved to have their interests met.

Yet, let’s raise some questions:

  • Are we happy about the result we get after a discussion?

  • Are we aware that negotiation is a process we need to practice?

  • Looking back, do we need another chance to control emotion during a dispute?

  • Do we know that negotiation skills can be learned?

  • Do feel sad about a good relation ended because of nonsense arguments?

  • Do we need to express ourselves better when it is about sensitive issues?

  • Are we ready for delivering a responsible speech when there is a crisis?

  • Do we think that an armed conflict could be avoided if there was a good negotiation?

If we answer half of these questions listed above with yes, then we need to develop Negotiation Culture in our lives, companies, communities and across the globe.

What did we do?

  • Under the leadership of Global Mediators & Negotiators, we started with training working women and gladly welcomed men, too. Our 7th Zen Group will be on 5th-6th-7th April 2019 in Istanbul.

  • We had presentations about what negotiation is at universities and different NGOs.

  • We used social media very effectively to create awareness.

  • We invited politicians for using a peaceful language.

  • We cooperated with universities to develop and deliver advanced training.

  • We received great support from scholars; Prof. Dr. Abdülkadir Varoğlu, Dr. Hakan Karabacak, Dr. Christian Chereji, and Arb. Av. Melih Sisa.

  • We wrote the Negotiators Society Code of Conduct for Negotiators.

  • We established as an NGO in the UK.

  • We are spreading globally.

  • We are organizing our first Negotiation Culture Conference on 21st June 2019 in Istanbul.

Invitation

All the great walks started with a single step first.

If you believe that, Negotiation Culture may improve relationships either at your company and NGO or in your family, community, country and region, please contact us.

If you want to be part of any activity we plan or take part in any project we develop, please reach us.

Let’s brainstorm how we can be at your service:

office@negotiatorssociety.org