I think that effective negotiation happens when two elements occur; empathizing with others involved and asserting yourself. It is knowing how to balance what the other party/person needs/wants whilst knowing and valuing yourself and what you want as well. As per the 7 Habits of Effective People by Steven Covey, I believe that thinking ‘Win, Win’ is important for effective negotiations to occur as this allows everyone to get what they want and maintain positive relationships. This is achieved by asking open ended questions and listening to others. It is also important to understand yourself and know what you want out of any interaction before you start negotiating. It is important to visualize and think what the other party might want to and how you will respond to this. What are your non-negotiables in the transaction.