Collaboration with home and school
NEGOTIATION: An Acquired Art
Parents and school personnel often find themselves on different sides of an
issue. Professionals may have different interests and less emotional involvement
than parents. Parents often see an issue with more intense reactions because it
involves their child. It becomes important for both parties to negotiate an
agreement.
The goal of negotiation is:
* to produce a wise agreement if agreement is possible
* to produce an efficient, effective agreement
* to improve, or at least not damage, the relationship
A wise agreement is one which meets the legitimate interest of each side to the
extent possible, resolves conflicting interests fairly, is durable, and takes
the community interests into account.
Negotiation isn't a natural art for most of us. It requires that we look at an
issue from a different perspective than we may be accustomed to. There are four
steps to successful negotiation that we all should keep in mind whenever we find
ourselves in situations that may bring out the worst in us.
* Separate the people from the problem
* Focus on interests, not positions
* Generate a variety of possibilities before deciding what to do
* Insist that the result be based on some objective criteria
Try to structure negotiation as a side-by-side activity in which the two sides,
with their different interests and perceptions, and emotional involvement,
jointly face a common task.
Separate the people from the problem
Base the relationship on:
* accurate perceptions
* clear communication
* appropriate emotions
* forward-looking, purposive outlook
Present the issue by:
* making your interests clear
* acknowledging their interests
* looking forward, not backward
* being concrete, but flexible
In special education we must remember to separate the issue -- FAPE -- from the
METHOD -- how FAPE is assured.
Positional Bargaining
Positional bargaining provides information about what you want. It offers an
anchor when there is no other. The drawbacks of positional bargaining lock us
into our positions, as we clarify and defend them. Less attention is paid to the
underlying interests and concerns. It can encourage us to begin with extreme
starting positions which tend to drag the whole process out. It often becomes a
contest of wills and it endangers the ongoing
relationship of the parties involved.
Effective Bargaining
Effective bargaining involves inventing options for mutual gain. We must
separate the act of inventing options from the act of judging them. Broaden
options if a single one seems to be getting nowhere. If we have actually
acknowledged the interests of the other party, we should be able to search for
mutual gains that will satisfy both parties. Try to make decisions easy. Often
the less complicated solution is the easiest to implement.
Realize that conflict, if used correctly, can have constructive results. It
forces creativity by producing a need to search for alternative solutions. It
requires us to clarify our point of view, and with constructive use, it can
produce better results.
We need to identify and define the problem/need we are trying to
solve/negotiate. If both parties can agree to what the problem/need is, then it
becomes easier to come up with solutions. If the everyone in the group
contributes to the generation of solutions, they will feel more committed to the
success of the solutions.
Once several solutions have been brainstormed and are on the table, then we need
to select the best ones and evaluate their effectiveness. If everyone has
contributed to the generation of the solutions, it is crucial that all are
willing to give them a provisional try without sabotaging them.
Reason and be open to reason. Be willing to try something new, but most of all,
remember why you are there in the first place -- the benefit of the child.