Negotiating.  The word means vastly different things, depending on one’s approach to life. I find that many people view negotiating as ‘a fight’, a win-lose opportunty, a chance to play bully.  But the word negotiate implies that both…or even all…parties participate; it’s not a dictatorship.  If it was a dictatorship, it wouldn’t be called negotiating.   If all parties participate, and it’s not a dictatorship, then a mutual approach to a mutual problem exists and the best approach is consensus.  Win-win.  And yes, that is possible.  I’ve seen too many cases where a push to beat another down, results in the pushing party ‘losing’.  So the upshot is this: If you push for win-lose, prepare to lose.  Because you just might.