Vienna’s Diplomatic Community Builds the Negotiation and Leadership Capacities

UN building in Vienna, Austria 4-5 May 2015, Vienna, Austria - Authority is not enough to get things done. Both negotiators and leaders must learn to empower and motivate their teams and lead in situations where they may not have any formal authority. They must know which decisions are the right ones and how to make them. Key to becoming an effective negotiator is the ability to listen. When building their vision and goals, negotiators must create a process that includes all stakeholders, build coalitions and communicate effectively.

Over the course of the two-day workshop, participants became acquainted with some of the dilemmas faced by negotiators and how best to reach an amicable agreement. Simulation exercises were used and real case studies were examined in order to render the theoretical content concrete and applicable to a diplomat’s work.

The workshop was facilitated by Ms. Michele Pekar, an expert in the field of negotiation training and leadership, who has taught at multiple levels and universities around the world. She is currently part of the leadership and negotiation round table at the Program on Negotiation at Harvard University, teaches at Oxford University, and has published widely on the topic.

Ms. Pekar was able to share her insights and expertise on the topic of negotiation and participants responded positively, with one calling her, “an excellent teacher”. Many were surprised how much they learned considering that the majority of participants were diplomats. In effect, the workshop deepened their knowledge and provided new insights.

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