Sermon Illustrations: Negotiating

If you are planning to ask for a pay rise or want to secure a business deal, try to bargain with someone of the opposite sex. European researchers have found that women negotiate better with men and vice versa, but that both men and women become over-competitive when they're dealing with someone of the same gender. Talks between a mixed-gender pair lead to significantly more cooperation, resulting in mutually beneficial business outcomes, the researchers say. They suggest that companies could use this knowledge to their benefit, by strategically selecting the gender of their representatives. Readers Digest July 2006 p 148