Finding My Voice in Negotiation: Lessons from The Centre of Learning

Recently, I took part in a negotiation and communication training course with The Centre of Learning and honestly, it was one of the best professional sessions I’ve ever done.

I picked this course because, if I’m being honest, negotiation has always been something I’ve struggled with. I tend to fold under pressure, agree to too much, and walk away feeling stressed and frustrated. I knew I was missing opportunities simply because I didn’t have the tools or confidence to handle those moments well. So, I decided to finally do something about it.

Expert-Led Negotiation Training with Una McSorley

The training was led by Una McSorley (Communication Trainer)FCIPR and she was brilliant. There were 14 of us in total, which made it feel really personal. Everyone got a chance to share their own experiences, role-play tricky situations, and get honest feedback. The day ran from 10am to 4pm, and every part of it was useful. It was structured, focused, and flowed perfectly with no wasted time or pointless exercises.

The Power of Mindset in Negotiation

Una kicked things off by talking about mindset, and that really struck a chord. Why do we doubt ourselves so much? Why do we tell ourselves we don’t belong at the table? That conversation set the tone for the rest of the day. Before we even got into tactics, we looked at what holds us back such as imposter syndrome, fear of conflict, and always putting other people’s needs first. It made me realise that confidence in negotiation starts with how you think, not just what you say.

Understanding Your Influencing Style

One of the biggest lightbulb moments for me was around influencing styles. We all have a go-to way of trying to influence others. Mine, it turns out, is “putting others first.” It’s not a bad thing, but Una showed us how important it is to be able to switch styles depending on the situation. Sometimes you need to be more dominant, sometimes more collaborative, or even take a step back. Being aware of those different approaches really changes how you show up in a conversation.

How to Prepare for Successful Negotiations

The most eye-opening part of the day was learning how to prepare properly for a negotiation. It’s not just about knowing what you want, it’s about understanding what the other person wants too. We talked through things like your BATNA (Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement) and how to figure out your optimum, desirable, and essential outcomes. Then we looked at what trade-offs you might be willing to make. We put all of this into practice through group scenarios, which really brought it to life. It was intense but so worthwhile.

Walking Away with Confidence

By the end of the day, I felt more confident than I have in a long time. Negotiation doesn’t feel as scary anymore; it feels like something I can actually handle. I know I’ve got a lot to practice, but at least now I’ve got a plan and the right mindset to keep improving.

I’m really grateful to Una McSorley and The Centre of Learning for creating such a supportive and practical environment. If you’re someone who finds negotiation stressful or doubts yourself in high-pressure situations, I’d highly recommend checking this out.

In Partnership with The Centre of Learning

This experience was brought to you in partnership with The Centre of Learning, sponsor of the Digg Podcast. You can check out their upcoming programmes and use code digg20 for 20% off any courses taking place up until March 2026. They must be booked before the end of December. Click here to find out more about the courses.