Introduction
The provided Power Point presentation proposes a number of methods which can be utilized in order to create a coalition between units of various types, be it countries, governmental or non-governmental organizations, or other entities. The described methods are rather Machiavellian in style, offering practical advice which may allow for directly capitalizing upon weaknesses of certain parties and turning these weaknesses to one’s advantage. It is clear, however, that the parties one interacts with may also employ Machiavellian-style methods, so it is important to be prepared and “armed” in order not to suffer from losses.
The Need for Analysis
It is clear that to utilize these methods, one needs to carry out a detailed analysis of the party or parties one is intending to interact with and is considering the possibility of allying with. Such a scrutiny should be conducted prior to negotiations, and also ought to be supported by further analysis during the negotiations. This should be done in advance, so that the issues are formulated in a convenient way, and before someone else shapes them in a way which is bad for one.
Conducting an Analysis
For instance, it is stated that common interests between parties should be sought, and that complementary aims should be identified. Clearly, this should be done prior to the meeting in which discussions will take place. Another example is shaping the agenda; it is important to find out what aims the potential ally pursues, and influence the creation of the agenda which would include the points that would be important for both parties, and permit for coming to an agreement.
On the other hand, such steps as identifying the decision-maker should be done both prior to the debates and during them. For instance, if officially a decision is made by a person A (which can be found out before the negotiations), but A is actually strongly influenced by a person B (which can, in certain cases, be only identified during an interaction or via informal communication), it is paramount to attempt to influence not only A but also B, and perhaps even persuading B should be prioritized.
Finally, certain steps and techniques can only be employed during the negotiations. These include the utilization of proper verbal and non-verbal communication, in certain cases – altering the views of alternatives that the potential ally has, and so on.
Informal Communication
It is also paramount to stress that one should communicate with their allies not only during the process of negotiations but also prior to it. Informal communication is also of the essence here. Such communication may allow for identifying the key players in the entity which one views as a potential ally, finding out the concrete interests of the members of that entity, understanding the driving factors for these members, etc.
Preparation for the Negotiations and for Unfavorable Turns of Events
Also, of course, one should create a plan of actions which are to be taken in the process of negotiations, as well as possible responses to this or that unfavorable turn of events. It is important not to rely on improvising; in many cases, one can successfully improvise only if they know the situation well, have some “emergency responses” to some general unfavorable situations, and are able to modify these responses in accordance with the actual situation or create similar ones if a need arises.
Conclusion
Therefore, it should be emphasized that the provided presentation offers some very practical methods which can be employed to make alliances between certain parties and use them in a way allowing for gaining maximum benefits. However, to successfully utilize these methods, it is paramount to carry out a number of preparations, in particular, a preceding analysis of the situation, and to continue to scrutinize the potential allies during the negotiations in order to be able to properly respond to the events which take place and take advantage of the opportunities which may arise. One should also not forget to sustain and properly use the alliance once it is formed.