Table 1
Seven Elements of Principled Negotiation for Public Health Policy.
| ELEMENT OF PRINCIPLED NEGOTIATION | IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY NEGOTIATIONS |
|---|---|
| Separate People from the Problem | Collegial relationships facilitate cooperation and deal making |
| Focus on Interests | Seek to understand the goals and concerns of other stakeholders; avoid focusing on specific proposals until you understand the interests motivating other key groups; completing and updating a stakeholder matrix can facilitate this |
| Generate Options | Think creatively about approaches that address the interests of all key stakeholder groups; think about direct service delivery, regulatory, and finance policy levers |
| Know Your Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement | Analyze the status quo prior to starting a negotiation and critically assess whether a policy proposal would be better than walking away with no change to current policy |
| Use Objective Criteria | Rely on data and standards (not argument) to inform and guide the negotiation |
| Follow Through on Commitments | Maintain trust and credibility throughout and after the negotiation; in public health you will often negotiate with the same parties over and over again; you may also need to work with them to implement the policy change |
| Communicate | Share your perspective and interests to facilitate the negotiation and actively listen to identify the main interests of other key stakeholder groups; frame your policy proposals in a way that speaks to the interests of key stakeholder groups |