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Successful publishing is largely built on successful negotiations. These can include negotiations between author and editor, agent and publisher, editor and marketing manager, and production manager and suppliers. Such negotiations need to have outcomes which are acceptable to both parties and help maintain ongoing relationships. 

Negotiating for a Win-Win Outcome is for anyone in publishing who negotiates with others, inside or outside the organisation. It offers plenty of tips, techniques and tools for successful negotiating. However, everyone has a different approach to negotiating, and the course encourages you to think about your current negotiating feelings and behaviours – which people and situations do you find most challenging? What goes well or not so well?

It also covers an understanding of the structure negotiations take, the behaviours which work best, how to deal with difficult parties and ways to build your own power, credibility and authority to get the outcome you need. 

With a mixture of theory and practice, working on your own and in small groups, you’ll put a variety of techniques into action and learn how to be a more effective negotiator.

Who is it for?

  • Commissioning editors
  • designers and design directors
  • junior editors
  • managing editors
  • publishers
  • production executives, managers and directors
  • publishers

What will you achieve?

On completing this course you’ll be able to:

  • prepare for the different stages of a negotiation
  • make use of the other person’s motivations and needs
  • use assertive behaviour in negotiating
  • assess and build your negotiating authority and power.

Programme

Day 1

Session 1

  • Your personal objectives
  • Introduction to win-win negotiating process
  • Group negotiating exercise

Session 2

  • How thoughts and feelings affect negotiating behaviour
  • Assertive behaviour as the foundation of negotiating behaviour
  • Negotiating with “difficult” people
  • Power, authority and credibility: how to increase yours

There will be a short exercise on building credibility to complete individually before Day 2

Programme

Day 2

Session 1

  • Recap on learning points
  • Rehearse negotiating in small groups using your own scenarios or those provided

Session 2

  • Discussion of practice scenarios
  • Features and benefits
  • Methods of communication in negotiations
  • Reflection on personal objectives

The course will include interactive discussion and small-group exercises in breakout rooms

Next session

11 & 13 November 2025

Price

£360 + VAT

A number of discounts are available

Course format

  • Virtual classroom
  • 9.00am to 12.30pm 
  • 4 x 1½-hour sessions, split across 2 half days comprising 2 half-day sessions 

Date information for future sessions

November 2025

  • Dates: 11 & 13 November 2025
  • Times: Each session will run from 9.00am to 12.30pm 

April 2026

  • Dates: 28 & 30 April 2026 
  • Times: Each session will run from 9.00am to 12.30pm 

November 2026

  • Dates: 10 & 12 November 2026
  • Times: Each session will run from 9.00am to 12.30pm 

What you will need

To join the course, you will need access to a computer or laptop with a camera and microphone. You will need to activate a free Zoom account to join the course. This takes 2 minutes and does not require any payment. It is purely for administrative purposes.