journey of faith Archives - Viet Bao Louisville KY

Deepak Malhotra, a revered professor at Harvard Business School, has redefined the essence of negotiation. His approach, steeped in human interaction, understanding, and the desire for better agreements, provides essential insight for Di Tran’s forthcoming book, “Drop the FEAR and Focus on the FAITH.”

Human-Centric Negotiation

Negotiation, in the eyes of Malhotra, stems from human interaction. It’s not about winning, but rather fostering understanding, mutual gain, and relationships. These principles mirror the ones in Tran’s book, in which he encourages readers to abandon fear and embrace faith.

Malhotra proposes that it’s not reaching the ‘right’ answer that should be rewarded, but the process of forming good arguments. This idea promotes an environment of intellectual curiosity and open dialogue.

Key Aspects in Negotiation

Malhotra pinpoints several crucial facets of negotiation, all of which can be mirrored in Tran’s exploration of faith and fearlessness.

Value Proposition: Malhotra invites negotiators to contemplate the implications of a no-deal situation, underlining the significance of understanding and communicating one’s value. Tran, in his book, prompts readers to recognize their inherent worth to help overcome fear.
Process versus Substance: Malhotra counsels negotiators to focus on the process rather than the outcome. This approach aligns with Tran’s message of concentrating on the journey of faith, rather than solely the destination.
Learning First: According to Malhotra, negotiation should begin with learning, not confrontation. This mirrors Tran’s advocacy for understanding, acceptance, and open-mindedness in faith.
The ‘Why’ Factor: Understanding the ‘why’ is more significant than the ‘what’ for Malhotra. Similarly, in Tran’s work, exploring the ‘why’ behind fear can aid in conquering it and reinforcing faith.
Empathy: Malhotra stresses the need for empathy in negotiation – to grasp the constraints of the other party and offer assistance. Tran also emphasizes the power of empathy in building faith and eliminating fear.
Rationality Assumption: Malhotra recommends negotiators to view the other party as rational and seek to comprehend their needs and interests. This viewpoint aligns with Tran’s encouragement for readers to understand others’ perspectives, thereby reducing fear and fostering faith.
Problem-Solving: Malhotra’s approach suggests that the problems of the other side become your own in a negotiation. Assisting in resolving these issues can lead to successful outcomes. Tran echoes this sentiment, urging readers to face their fears head-on and solve them as a way of nurturing faith.
No Ultimatums: Malhotra cautions against ultimatums, advocating for negotiators to leave room for future dialogue. Tran similarly advises readers to steer clear of ultimatums, embracing uncertainties with faith instead.
Reasoning Over Rejection: Rather than outright rejection, Malhotra encourages negotiators to offer explanations, nurturing understanding and conversation. Tran advocates the same in dealing with life’s challenges, offering constructive responses over outright refusal.
Honesty: Malhotra underlines truthfulness as an essential part of negotiation ethics. Tran also emphasizes honesty as key in overcoming fears and establishing faith.
Expecting Greatness: Malhotra advises negotiators to perceive their counterparts as competent while striving to be better. This aligns with Tran’s philosophy, where seeing greatness in others can help dissolve fear and inspire faith.

In conclusion, Deepak Malhotra’s principles of negotiation provide insightful lessons for Di Tran’s forthcoming book, “Drop the FEAR and Focus on the FAITH.” By emphasizing empathy, honesty, a learning mindset, and problem-solving, we can face fears, strengthen faith, and lead more fulfilling lives.

Di Tran, the renowned author of “Drop the FEAR and focus on the FAITH,” unveils a daring perspective on life that many often shy away from – the concept that everything in life is, in essence, a negotiation. This negotiation is not limited to business deals, real estate transactions, or boardroom discussions. Instead, it permeates every aspect of our existence – friendships, family ties, romantic relationships, and even our interactions with ourselves.

However, not everyone is comfortable admitting this truth. There’s an underlying apprehension that acknowledging this ongoing negotiation somehow diminishes our authenticity. This fear runs deep, distorting our ability to candidly discuss matters involving financial stakes or business undertakings, especially in social settings.

This fear, however, isn’t just limited to money or business discussions. It’s a pervasive, all-encompassing unease that encroaches into our social interactions. The dread of losing people’s support, the worry of being misunderstood, the anxiety of not conforming – all these concerns stem from a fundamental fear of standing out, of being different.

The fear of silence, the fear of speaking up – these paradoxical fears often coexist. The dread of being ostracized for not advocating certain ideologies or causes, or the fear of speaking the truth when you have the solution, because of a perceived backlash, reflects an unfortunate reality of our social dynamics. It suggests an unwillingness to be truly helpful or constructive because of the looming fear of attracting hate or being different.

Furthermore, there’s the unsettling fear of being loved, of being friendly to others. It might seem counterintuitive, but the fear of standing out, even for positive traits, can hold us back. These are the silent fears that we often refuse to acknowledge, let alone confront.

However, Tran suggests an audacious solution – break the frame. To conquer these fears, one must shatter these societal and self-imposed barriers. If your goals are set for three years, why not push boundaries and aim to achieve them in six months?

This philosophy is not about hastening recklessly. Instead, it’s about challenging oneself, about not being content with merely playing by the rules but reshaping them instead. It is about overcoming our innate fear of judgement, of standing out, and embracing the power of faith – faith in our capabilities, our dreams, and our vision.

People often know the answers to their dilemmas. Deep down, we know what needs to be done, how the negotiation needs to take place. But we wait – we wait for someone else to make the first move, to ask the question. This waiting, this hesitation, is yet another manifestation of fear.

Tran’s philosophy is a call to action, a plea to abandon the fear and lean into the faith. The negotiations of life need not be a fear-fraught process. It can be a dynamic journey of faith and self-realization. By acknowledging the fears, we can begin to dismantle them. By focusing on faith, we can start navigating life’s negotiations with confidence, authenticity, and, ultimately, success.

In the end, the goal is to create a space where fear no longer holds sway, where we can freely discuss the matters that influence our lives, where being different is not a cause for anxiety but a badge of courage. Only then can we truly be ourselves, authentic and unapologetic.