How to conduct successful contract negotiations in one day:
9 extremely effective methods and techniques for quickly conducting negotiations that you can use, even if you are not a lawyer or professional business negotiator.
Since you're here, you're probably wondering - how to speed up contract negotiations?
In business, negotiations are the primary method of concluding more significant commercial agreements. In protracted negotiations over less important clauses as well as essential ones, successive versions and amendments are sent back and forth. This typically causes both parties to quickly become frustrated or, even worse, simply tired. Unfortunately, negotiating contracts is a complex process that spans various stages. Negotiation strategies are one thing, but factors that change over time and the different motivation levels of participants must be taken into account above all else. And one must respond to them accordingly. Some legal and business negotiations concerning individual contracts and their provisions drag on indefinitely. Such is the unfortunate characteristic of this bureaucratic side of business. However, if we are very keen, this process can be significantly improved by appropriately utilising knowledge of the principles of conducting effective legal and business negotiations. Since we conduct A law firm specializing in contract negotiations throughout the country, we decided to share some of the knowledge acquired in various projects in this article. Below, we describe in 9 points how to conduct effective negotiations in business, and above all, how to do it as quickly as possible. The passage of time usually does not benefit either party in negotiations. Moreover, every even slightly experienced businessman knows that concluding a good contract does not depend on the number of days the parties devoted to legal or business negotiations.
Briefly – what is the definition of negotiation? Are business negotiations the same as sales talks?
From a business perspective – essentially, yes. By the process we describe as concluding commercial agreements, we understand practically any negotiation of contracts and actions aimed at concluding B2B transactions, meaning those concluded between businesses. The methods described in this article will work regardless of whether the discussions or negotiations are more of a legal or commercial nature, or whether they concern a container of nails, the delivery of photovoltaic panels, photographic services, or the rental of office space for 5 years. Negotiation techniques have a universal character, although negotiation strategies themselves are usually highly tailored to the subject of negotiation. As a side note, we would like to point out that a large part of our proposals aimed at speeding up negotiations can be applied not only during the negotiation of business contracts but also to contracts concluded by individuals not running a business, i.e., individual customers. The most important truth is that for business, few things are as important as time. As Benjamin Franklin said, "time is money," and any prolonged delay in project implementation, transaction conclusion, or the commencement of cooperation means real losses. These losses most often affect both sides of the negotiation table. Unfortunately, not both parties to the negotiation are always aware of this. Fortunately, there are negotiation techniques that – with a bit of goodwill from the participants of this process – allow for the acceleration and finalisation of contract negotiations even within a single day. Reaching an agreement quickly, without significantly increasing the risk of negotiation breakdown, does not have to be difficult – read our guide.
Here are our 9 effective solutions to speed up business negotiations:
1. Propose your contract template. If possible, present a design as simple as possible.
If you are the one initiating the legal negotiations for the contract and you have the opportunity to do so, start by sending your own draft contract. This applies whether you are negotiating a contract extension or a completely new contract. The first proposal should come from you, which will put you in a stronger starting position for further negotiations. Sending your own draft contract is a tactic that works particularly well for straightforward transactions and those that are, to some extent, standardised – for example, the types of contract most commonly used by your company. The simpler the structure and the less complex the terms of the contract, the easier it will be to reach an agreement. If your overriding aim is quick conclusion of contracts commercial transactions, when submitting projects, avoid unnecessary contractual provisions and focus only on key issues, so as to reach the end of negotiations as quickly as possible and lead to the signing of the agreement. A good contract template is one whose provisions address only real problems. Contractual clauses relating to problems that do not occur in the real world are the best signal that it is time to ask a lawyer to prepare a new, better contract template. But more on this at the end of the article. We have contact with various clients - those who make the biggest transaction in their lives for several hundred thousand zlotys and those who trade millions every day. Trust us - if you ask a very wealthy businessman about ways to achieve similar success and criteria for evaluating negotiations, you will hear that the key to solving the puzzle is time. However, to gain time, you need to simplify as many matters and processes as possible.
2. Plan the negotiation and conclusion of the contract process with the other party for the day. Agree on short response times.
When starting business negotiations or simply wanting to speed up the contract signing process, propose and firmly enforce short deadlines for submitting amendments. For example, inform them you will send your proposal at 10 am and ask the other party to set a firm deadline by which you will expect a response, e.g., 2 pm. This is one of the methods that allows for quickly reaching an agreement, concluding negotiations, and signing a contract. Don't be afraid to call the other party – effective negotiations and reaching an agreement are based on conversation. And instead of making unnecessary reproaches, use positive language such as: I see that my corrections are quite a puzzle for you, which you will still have to solve? You can also try constructively: probably the biggest problem for you is with XYZ - we can discuss this issue right away, because we really want to formally start cooperation today. If we sort this out, will there be anything left for us?
3. If you want to conclude a contract quickly, meet your deadlines.
The secret of effective negotiations is punctuality. If you do not meet the deadlines, the other party will also feel released from this obligation. Therefore, it is important to meet your own deadlines in negotiations. If you miss the deadlines, you will undermine your credibility with the other party, who will then stop taking you and the deadlines seriously. You need to show that meeting deadlines is easy, so it is a good idea to send your draft contracts or any corrections you make - half an hour or an hour before the promised deadline. The introduction of such a regime is one of the most effective negotiation strategies, which, paradoxically, the other party usually appreciates.
4. To speed up commercial and legal negotiations, improve the communication process. Agree to use the simplest and fastest forms of communication.
E-mail is still a very fast way of communication, but often even e-mails are treated as an outdated method of communication, and even hindering effective negotiations. Instead of communication via e-mail, you can establish direct communication with your negotiation partner via instant messengers such as WhatsApp, Messenger, or Slack. Recipients, when they receive a message on an instant messenger, feel a greater compulsion to respond quickly. Each of the mentioned instant messengers also allows you to easily send the other party the next version of the draft agreement. This will increase the pace of negotiations, bringing mutual benefits.
5. Carry out the next stages of negotiations as soon as possible. Schedule a final meeting or conference call in advance to resolve any recent discrepancies.
If you are conducting remote business negotiations, plan a mandatory video conference at the end of each negotiation day. If you have direct contact with the other party, a meeting at an agreed location is best. Such a final meeting allows all last-minute doubts and contentious issues to be clarified directly, and the agreements made by both parties to be summarised. Most often, it is direct conversation that enables swift resolution of existing differences, clear articulation of one's position, and ultimately, the signing of an agreement. If possible, maintain a friendly atmosphere during the conversation and focus on open-ended questions – these will compel the other party to explain and possibly change their initial views. And this is precisely the objective of effective negotiations.
6. Use modern technologies. Business negotiations and conclusion of commercial contracts online. Live tracking of contract negotiation progress.
Modern technologies are useful not only for concluding commercial agreements remotely but also for in-person meetings. It is best to introduce changes to the negotiated agreement in real-time, immediately – when all parties to the negotiation are present on-site. During professional negotiations, it is best to display the draft agreement so that everyone can see it. It is also possible to collaboratively work on a document online during video conferences and display and make amendments on an ongoing basis. This will allow all meeting participants to track changes live, which incredibly speeds up the entire business or legal negotiation process. 
7. Ensure that all parties to the negotiations and all necessary persons attend the final meeting.
If you want these negotiations to be extremely effective, ensure the presence of all decision-makers and necessary advisors - lawyers, accountants, bankers, etc. The lack of key people is one of the main reasons for delays in the negotiation process. Proper negotiation meetings should always take place in the presence of all decision-makers, this significantly speeds up the end of the negotiations.
8. Do not discuss the provisions of the negotiated contract that do not pose a threat to you.
Don't waste time arguing over contract clauses that don't actually concern you or don't present a real risk. For example, when negotiating a rental agreement, don't discuss the penalty for failing to take possession of the premises if you are scheduled to pick up the keys the next day anyway, or if the keys are practically lying on the table. At the same time, clearly identify your limits for concessions. Whether we like it or not, representatives of the other negotiating party very often consult lawyers or managers on changes to any contractual provision, while not all of these relate to every transaction. Therefore, negotiating some of them, such as those that are unfavourable but essentially improbable, doesn't make much sense. On the other hand, consulting every change with a lawyer certainly does make sense, because sometimes deleting a single word can literally dismantle the structure of half the agreement. The problem, however, is that a bad, sad, but true custom of commercial negotiations is that parties often present old contract templates, often completely unsuited to the given transaction. To speed up contract negotiations and out of a misguided sense of economy, future contractors often choose to bypass the stage where they instruct a lawyer to adapt the contract draft to the transaction before sending such a draft to the other party. This is a dubious economy of time, especially as it usually ends up involving a lawyer at later stages of negotiations. Although we sometimes hear that this is because the party's lawyer is not reacting quickly enough, then that's something that absolutely needs to be worked on with them. Fast and efficient legal services, contrary to popular belief, can be achieved. And fast and effective negotiations are something your company desperately needs, given that you have ended up here. 
9. A lawyer-negotiator will be useful. If necessary, find an effective contract lawyer, i.e. one who has extensive experience in business negotiations.
If the conclusion of a given agreement is complex or very important to your interests, or if its value is high, it is definitely worth considering hiring a lawyer specialising in contract negotiation. However, you must have a good sense of whether you have encountered a lawyer who "creates and multiplies" problems, or on the contrary, helps to resolve them quickly. The negotiation and business experience of a lawyer who understands business needs can allow both parties to save money or earn more by proposing favourable solutions and contractual provisions. The key here is not secret negotiation techniques, but experience gained in business, creativity, and understanding the client's needs – the key skills that allow negotiations to be concluded quickly and as favourably as possible. It is worth realising that a good negotiator in business is not one who tries to harm the other party. A good negotiator is one who helps both parties to conclude a favourable agreement. This primarily involves effectively identifying solutions and areas where the interests of both parties converge. A good business lawyer quickly identifies sensitive or conflict situations. They then introduce convenient solutions into the contract that allow difficult, conflict situations to be resolved as quickly and simply as possible.
Summary – how to speed up business and legal negotiations
To steer or unblock negotiations, a mix of creative legal and business solutions is most often needed. Coupled with these, firm and decisive actions work best to break the deadlock. This is a recipe that works regardless of whether you are negotiating an extension to a contract or an entirely new agreement. Alongside well-tailored negotiation tactics and strategies, for the effective and successful conduct of business negotiations, we primarily need thinking lawyers and decisive clients. Yes, of course, we also invite to contact or arrange an initial consultationIf we have availability, we will gladly help, even with a single matter. However, if you are keen to achieve lasting acceleration and optimise the negotiation processes related to concluding commercial contracts in your company – we encourage you to undertake such a project with us. We will help you conduct and implement it comprehensively, from A to Z. The difference will be significant. We believe that it is also thanks to clear commercial contract templates, free from legal complexities, that our clients have achieved much more and much faster than they expected. Many companies have grown precisely because they have optimised the contract conclusion process to such an extent that it is no longer a headache for business managers. Author: Legal Counsel Piotr Kłodziński – business negotiator, contract lawyer