4 Negotiation Tactics Robert Kraft Used to End the NFL Lockout

As these negotiation tactics demonstrate, a win-win solution is always available to creative negotiators

By — on / Win-Win Negotiations

negotiation tactics

Robert Kraft, the owner of the New England Patriots, was by all accounts a major factor in getting the NFL collective bargaining agreement signed back in October 2011. To do so, Kraft employed four key negotiation tactics to help the players and owners come to a “win-win” solution.

4 Negotiation Tactics to Overcome Impasse at the Negotiation Table

Negotiation Tactic #1) Establish relationships of trust.

According to The Boston Globe, Kraft worked hard to develop personal relationships with his counterparts, including offering DeMaurice Smith, Executive Director of the NFL Players Association, a ride on his private jet en route to meetings. As a result, when he spoke, the players were more willing to listen to what he had to say.

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Negotiation Tactic #2) Generate options for mutual gains.

Kraft encouraged owners and players to negotiate some of the more complex issues in smaller negotiating sessions, without lawyers present. This allowed negotiators to be more effective at finding mutually agreeable and beneficial solutions to some of the intractable points in the contract.

Negotiation Tactic #3) Convince your side to make concessions at key moments.

One of the key issues in the negotiations was the rookie wage system. Kraft played a key role in convincing the owners to make a concession on this point so that the negotiations could move forward, an agreement could be reached.

Negotiation Tactic #4) Negotiate for the long term.

The NFL contract negotiations were successful, not only because an agreement was signed, but because both sides were able to walk away feeling good about the final deal. At the press conference announcing the deal, Jeff Saturday, a center for the Indianapolis Colts and a representative of the NFL Players Association, made special mention of Robert Kraft’s role in the negotiations. He also made sure to express gratitude to Myra Kraft, who had passed away last week, for supporting her husband’s work on these negotiations, even as she was in her “weakest moment.” In the face of his personal loss, both players and owners were even more appreciative of Robert Kraft’s hard work on finding a winning solution for all involved.

The success of the NFL sports negotiations and Robert Kraft’s vital role in that success illustrates exactly how negotiation strategies can be applied effectively within any industry or field. For more tips from sports contract negotiations situations, please download our free report: Win-Win or Hardball: Learn Top Strategies from Sports Contract Negotiations.

What other negotiation tactics do you think can be learned from professional sports negotiations? Share your thoughts with our readers in the comments section below.

Win-Win or Hardball

Claim your FREE copy: Win-Win or Hardball

Discover how to handle complicated, high-level business negotiations in this free report, Win-Win or Hardball: Learn Top Strategies from Sports Contract Negotiations, from Harvard Law School.


Related Negotiation Tactics Article: Negotiating for Continuous Improvement: Monitor and Assess Your Negotiation Skills – How to monitor, assess, and improve your negotiation skills using measures developed by negotiation research and tested at the bargaining table.

Don’t Let the Outside Voices Ruin the Dialogue Inside: Limiting the Impact of Outsiders on Your Negotiation – Limit the influence of outsiders at the negotiation table with the negotiation strategies presented in this article drawn from Negotiation Briefings.

Originally posted in 2011.

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Comments

One Response to “4 Negotiation Tactics Robert Kraft Used to End the NFL Lockout”

  • Tom S.

    I sure would like to see Bill Ury (or someone equally talented from PON) sit down with the President and the Speaker of the House. I wonder if that’s even on their radar . . .

    Reply

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