Did President Obama Negotiate Badly

When President Obama took office, he had a very long list of items he wanted to accomplish. Those on the far right said he was being too aggressive with his agenda. Those on the far left said he was not being aggressive enough. The president’s number one mistake was, he allowed those that supported his campaign to think they’d get everything he promised during the campaign. He did not manage their expectations.

When you negotiate, do you manage expectations and set priorities for the outcome you seek from the negotiation? If so, do you also focus on what matters to the other negotiator. By focusing on the other negotiator’s needs, you subliminally send a message that you’re seriously trying to ‘solve’ her problem, which should in turn solicit her support for your position. At the junctions of those intersections will lay the point from which you can begin to negotiate. The following are additional negotiation strategies you can incorporate when managing expectations and setting priorities during your negotiations.

1. Vilification: Assess the need to vilify the position of the other negotiator when you negotiate. If you seek cooperation, vilification will only serve as an additional obstacle to overcome.

2. Agenda: Be cautious of taking on too much when negotiating. The more options you incorporate into a negotiation agenda, the greater the potential for failure.

3. Balance: Be careful not to appear too weak, or too aggressive. In any negotiation, one has to strike a fine balance between being perceived as too strong and appearing to be too weak. One can bridge that balance without being pervasive. Observe the interpretations of your actions by the other negotiator, for insight into whether you’re being perceived as too weak or too aggressive.

4. Reality: Perception is reality. The way you depict a situation, is reality to you. To the degree you ‘shape’ the perception of the other negotiator, you shape his reality. Seek to shape the opinion of an outcome, in order to have the opinion valued from your perspective. If you don’t, the other negotiator will apply his perception to the position and if it drastically differs from yours, you’ll initially have to negotiate from his perspective.

5. Likability: Are you likable? When negotiating, likability can be a benefit. It can also be an albatross. President Obama is very likable. His poll numbers bear out this fact. Some of the members of the president’s party have stated that he needs to become ‘tougher’. By appearing tough, you, at a minimum, allow the other negotiator to ‘see’ by your actions that you’re willing to ‘draw a line in the sand’, from which you will not retreat. Make sure you assess ‘balance’ in your ‘tough’ appearance.

By being attentive to the variables, narrative, and makeup of your negotiation and addressing them succinctly, you improve your negotiation position and the probability of reaching the outcome you seek. In so doing, your negotiation efforts should sail without being assailed… and everything will be right with the world.

The Negotiation Tips Are…

· Manage expectations. If time is a consideration that’s needed to influence the outcome of a position, inform the other negotiator of the consideration. By doing so, you’ll subliminally address the fact that the situation will not be corrected ‘overnight’ and you’ll ‘buy’ more time and understanding, as a position from which to negotiate.

· Never be afraid to adapt to a position when you negotiate. You can be adaptive without losing the personality you possess. President Obama is having a difficult time adapting, because he doesn’t want to have his ‘likable’ personality altered. Don’t be trapped by being immobile.

· When negotiating, be aware of a general consent from those who are discontent. In essence, pay attention to the mode of the negotiation. The mode will give you a sense for the direction in which the negotiation is moving.

Edinburgh Airport UK – Past, Present, and Future

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to journey across the ocean to discover a culture or place that is unlike anything you are accustomed? If you wish to travel to a beautiful place one of the first places to visit should be Edinburgh Scotland. In 2007, Edinburgh Airport UK allowed over 9 million passengers to travel to and from Scotland. The M9 as well as M90 motorway very easily accesses Edinburgh Airport. There are multiple forms of transportation for access to the airport.

The Past

Have you ever stop to wonder how places were built or the history behind the building? The current building serving as terminal was actually constructed back in 1977 by a designer by the name of Robert Matthew. However, the control tower was not completed until 2005. Since 1977, the building has been upgraded with new facilities. The original terminal has quite an exciting history.

Edinburgh Airport was once known as Turnhouse Aerodrome, which was a base for defense during World War I. It was opened in 1915 and use to house airplanes used during the war such as DH 9As and Hawker Hind light bombers among others. The airstrip for this facility at this time was just grass. Then in 1918, this facility was turned into the RAF Turnhouse. RAF stands for the Royal Air Force. This base also was a part of World War II. After the fighter command took charge there was roughly 4,000 feet of pavement laid in order to handle the aircraft known as the Vickers Supermarine Spitfire.

After many years under military control, the first services used commercially were in 1947 when British European Airways was developed. This airline flew between Edinburgh and the city of London. Then in 1952, 6000 feet of pavement was poured to extend the runway. In 1980 there were two international flights to Amsterdam as well Dublin. The next two places were France and Germany.

The Present

Moving forward into the present, the air traffic tower reaching a height of roughly 190 feet was completed in 2005 costing approximately £10m (€16m). There were six gates added in 2006. The main runway’s resurfacing was completed in November of 2008. Because of this the runway will last another 15 years before anything needs to be done. Along with the resurfacing of the runway, the construction of the departure lounge began in December of 2008.

The Future

Let’s jump ahead to the future of Edinburgh Airport UK. The tram network for Edinburgh is projected to make a connection to the airport by 2011. Throughout the next decade a total of £250m is to be spent on upgrading the airport. By 2030, the numbers of travelers are expected to exceed 26 million each year.

In Conclusion

It’s exciting to think that a facility could grow from a small military base all the way to a major airport. There have definitely been an amazing amount of work put into making the airport what it is today. It looks like there are some really great things in store for the Edinburgh Airport UK.

Dinnerware – The Present Trends

Art is what gives satisfaction to our sensibility and it truly knows no boundaries. Art has come down to our tables in the form of exclusive and artistic dinnerware. Dinnerware embodies in itself art, history, and industry. As an art, it is conceived and given shape, color, pattern and design by the artist and then is manufactured by dinnerware industry in such a manner that it doesn’t lose its functionality and can be used for intended purpose over a period of years, and even centuries, thus creating history. In fact, decorative art is strongly reflected in the history of dinnerware. Whether it be cubist or impressionistic, classical or deco, Mediterranean or Oriental, decorative dinnerware has always been there in a wide variety of range as an everyday item and also as a collectible.

Present Trends of Dinnerware

During its journey, dinnerware has been through many changes. The present trends of dinnerware can only tell whether the artistic inclination remains in it even today or not.

Vibrant Colors and Patterns: – Dinnerware in bright oranges, yellows, gold metallics and blues are giving warmth and life to the subdued background of homes. Ethnic prints including Native American patterns, African motifs and Asian batiks truly stand apart against the vibrant color scheme.

Browns and Blacks:- It’s true that white will never lose its place but for a while, browns and blacks are in limelight. Brown with all its shades, from dusky to coffee and even dark chocolate, are in great demand. These colors are even contrasted with colors like yellow, blue and green to bring dramatic effects. Black is also there to shine with pride. Contrasted mainly with whites and sometimes with golden shades, black is here to stay.

Eco Dinnerware: – The passion for clean environment has led to recycled dinnerware which is fast catching up with the masses. Apart from being made from recycled products, these items reflect shades of green- jades and olives- along with attractive patterns representing nature in form of leaves and other foliage etc.

Fancy Grapics: – Odd, unconventional, peculiar and even hand drawn whimsical and abstract graphics are gaining unimaginable popularity. They are, all the more, adding interest to our tables.

Irregular Shapes: – Any shape other than round is in. Although the standard round plates and bowls can never vanish but the shapes like star, squares, geometric shapes, organic shapes are fast making ways into hotels, restaurants, home kitchens and dining tables. Appetizers are now served on rectangular plates, and entrees in oversize bowls. Even colors of dishes are considered while finalizing dessert plates, such as a plate with rose-colored outer edge and gold trim for creme brulee!

Are you now thinking whether we really eat with our eyes first? Yes, of course!