Getting to Yes

Negotiating an Agreement Without Giving In

by Roger Fisher, William Ury & Bruce Patton

Getting to Yes stands as the go-to guide for mastering the art of negotiation. It offers tried-and-true strategies and methods to help you tackle any disagreement and come up with solutions that benefit everyone involved.

Meet the Authors

Roger Fisher (1922–2012) taught at Harvard Law School and was a key figure in establishing the Harvard Negotiation Project.

William Ury applies his anthropology background to broker peace deals for big businesses and governments across the globe.

Bruce Patton teaches at Harvard and co-founded Vantage Partners, a worldwide consulting firm that assists companies in enhancing their negotiation skills.

Negotiation: The Key to Modern Decision-Making

Gone are the days when one person called all the shots. Just a few decades back, the big boss or the "all-knowing dad" made decisions without much back-and-forth.

Fast forward to today, and the landscape has totally shifted. Hierarchies have loosened up, info is at our fingertips, and more folks are getting a say in decisions across the board.

This means we've got to step up our game when it comes to talking things out and bringing others into the fold. Politicians are chatting with voters, and companies are nudging their workers to chip in on big decisions.

Even the parent-kid dynamic is getting a shake-up. With Google in the mix, parents can't just lay down the law about what's good or bad. Kids can pull up facts and challenge those claims in a heartbeat.

These days, reaching common ground in any part of life boils down to negotiation. Whether you're debating movie choices with buddies, hammering out deals with suppliers, or working on international peace talks, the core principles of negotiation are surprisingly similar.

By getting clued up on the right techniques, you can seriously up your negotiation game. And since every day throws some kind of negotiation your way, it's definitely worth your time to sharpen those skills.