Negotiating a workable compromise

The idea

State each person’s priorities, offer a specific concession and agree on a trial and a time to reassess.

Examples

• Para mí es importante mantener los costes bajos.It is important to me to keep costs low.
• Entiendo que necesitas más tiempo.I understand that you need more time.
• ¿Qué parte de la propuesta podríamos cambiar?Which part of the proposal could we change?
• Yo puedo ocuparme de la compra si tú preparas la cena.I can do the shopping if you prepare dinner.
• Probemos este arreglo durante dos semanas.Let us try this arrangement for two weeks.
• Después revisaremos si el acuerdo funciona para ambos.Afterwards we will check whether the agreement works for both of us.

Watch out

A conditional offer is not an agreement until both people accept its terms.

Try it yourself

1. Choose the appropriate word. ¿Podemos ___ la fecha de entrega? (cambiar / pintar)

   Show answer or example answer

   cambiar

   cambiar expresses change. It proposes altering the delivery date.

2. Choose the appropriate word. Yo limpio la cocina ___ tú ordenas la sala. (si / sin)

   Show answer or example answer

   si

   si expresses if. It makes one task conditional on the other.

3. Choose the appropriate word. Revisemos el ___ al final del mes. (acuerdo / paraguas)

   Show answer or example answer

   acuerdo

   acuerdo expresses agreement. It names what will be checked at month end.

Use it today

Negotiate a practical division of a shared task.