| This is the intriguing title of an article in History | | | | unfortunate tendency to send you to the floor. You get |
| magazine, which made me think of getting what you | | | | the idea. I was told there was no money for capital |
| want - after all, the people after the castle wanted the | | | | goods. When I looked through the budget, I noted a |
| castle! Julian Humphrys, the author, lists 10 ways used | | | | depreciation line. I checked with finance, and got it in |
| in the medieval time to capture a castle, all of which | | | | writing that there was money and the amount. Armed |
| mirror various ways we can attempt to get what we | | | | with that, I went back to my boss. Yes, I went behind |
| want. Now we don't use huge armies to get what we | | | | her back. Yes, she was annoyed and relations cooled. |
| want from others; we use other strategies. All the | | | | On the other hand, the team morale shot up. Going |
| methods listed fall into three groups: | | | | underground and using surprise worked, but you need |
| - Assertive - be diplomatic, ask nicely | | | | to accept there will be a price to pay. |
| - Sneaky - element of surprise, mind games, going | | | | The aggressive group is usually involuntary. We use it |
| underground | | | | when we feel backed into a corner - or are very |
| - Aggressive - assault and battery, fire, over the top, | | | | passionate about the issue. It can also be the office |
| gunpowder and starve them out | | | | coup d'état, or the hostile takeover. Then as |
| The assertive group involved people being willing to | | | | now, this is a last resort because it is the most |
| talk. It is certainly the cheapest option when dealing | | | | expensive, and you cannot afford to lose. If you |
| with any situation - sometimes just asking works. If not, | | | | become involuntarily aggressive - push back because |
| then think about what you have the other person might | | | | you do feel pushed against a wall, or something |
| want and then show them how it is worth the trade. | | | | triggers your passion - let things cool and assess the |
| Now, these two options work when you have a good | | | | damage. If you believe you are right, find away to be |
| bargaining position - you need to have something to | | | | assertive. This will involve apologising, and it does take |
| trade - and you need backup. In medieval times, this | | | | planning to get back to the table to talk. If you have |
| was a big army camped outside the castle wall. These | | | | tried the hostile takeover and failed, you will need to |
| days, I would suggest factual back up. For example, | | | | either walk away or mount another one - consider |
| when I was negotiating budget increases, I had the | | | | what happened when Kraft tried to take over |
| facts I needed. These weren't just the numbers, but | | | | Cadbury. Frankly, this isn't an option I would ever |
| the consequences of not being able to deliver. | | | | consider to get what I want because the price is too |
| Remember that having something trade can be some | | | | high. |
| of your time and expertise! | | | | So what has changed since the medieval times? |
| Is there ever a reason to use the tactics of the | | | | Really, very little. We still use strategy - we just use |
| sneaky group? In a word, yes. I have done this. I | | | | words, facts, and money instead of armies. Like |
| needed equipment for the office. I mean need - the | | | | medieval warriors, we win by choosing the battlefield |
| desk was taped in places and levelled with paper. The | | | | and weapons needed to get the job done. |
| chair was ok as long as you didn't move in it; it had an | | | | |