My current difficult situation involves me and my supervisor at work. We have been trying to come to an agreement on a project that I am working on, but we have hit an impasse. My supervisor is pushing for certain changes that I feel are unnecessary and could greatly impact the overall quality of the project, but I am not certain about how best to handle the situation. I am not confident about how to negotiate with my supervisor, and I feel like there is a power imbalance that is making it difficult for me to get my point across. I am willing to share the general challenges with my classmates and the specifics with one person in my class (my "coach"). This situation is difficult because of the power imbalance between me and my supervisor. I am an employee, and they are my supervisor, which gives them more authority to make decisions than me. Additionally, this project is important to me, and I want it to be successful, but I do not feel like my supervisor is taking my opinion into account. This makes it hard to come to a compromise and creates an impasse. In order to best solve this situation, I need to find a way to bridge the power gap and come to an agreement that is satisfactory to both of us. There are several approaches to solving this situation. Firstly, I could take a collaborative approach and try to explore compromises with my supervisor. This would involve listening to their concerns and suggestions and working together to come up with creative solutions that are beneficial to both of us. I would also need to be respectful and willing to compromise in order to make this approach successful. Another approach that I could take is a more assertive approach. In this approach, I would need to stand my ground and be firm about my opinion while still being respectful and open to their suggestions. This approach would require me to be prepared to explain my reasoning and back up my position with facts and evidence. I would need to be assertive but not aggressive in order to make this approach successful. Problem-solving techniques could also be useful in this situation. Brainstorming and role-playing could help me to come up with creative solutions that address both of our concerns. By brainstorming and role-playing, I could come up with ideas that neither of us had initially considered, which could help us find a compromise that works for both of us. Finally, it may be beneficial to seek out advice from trusted colleagues or mentors for additional guidance. This could help me to gain insight into my supervisor's perspective and help me to better understand the power dynamics at play. Additionally, this could also help me to gain confidence in my own abilities and give me additional strategies for negotiating with my supervisor. In conclusion, my current situation is difficult because of the power imbalance between me and my supervisor. In order to best solve this situation, I need to find a way to bridge the power gap and come to an agreement that is satisfactory to both of us. There are several approaches that I could take, such as a collaborative approach, an assertive approach, problem-solving techniques, and seeking advice from trusted colleagues or mentors. By using a combination of these approaches, I believe I can successfully resolve this situation.

It is common for negotiations to get stuck, to come to a deadlock where it seems impossible to find a new way forward. While this week's readings tend to focus on multi-party or team negotiations, all of the material can also be applied to negotiations between two parties.

To work on getting unstuck, answer the following questions in as much detail and clarity as you can, remembering to question your own assumptions. Use this week's readings for guidance.

Where are you currently stuck in the negotiation you are focusing on in this course?

What assumptions are you making?

What assumptions do you think the other party (or parties) is making?

What relevant information are you using? Is the other party (or parties) using the same information or any different relevant information?