Is there such a thing as average?

Somewhere out there, the Average Joe is living it up. He is mentioned so often that he is famous for being just like the rest of us, if we were famous. But what makes the Average Joe so average? Is he earning the average salary? Does he have 2.5 children? Does he wear a size 9 shoe?

The Average Joe is shorthand for what the typical consumer looks like. But we all know there is no truly average person. Every person has his/her own distinction or differentiation.

In business negotiations, we use lots of averages: the average price, the average delivery time, standard rates, and so forth. The BusinessDictionary.com defines average as:

Number or quantity that is in-between (intermediate to) several quantities and numbers.

This is important because it is telling us the average is not a “real” number…it is in-between numbers.

Dr. Chester L. Karrassadvises us to be careful about using and accepting averages. He writes in his book Give and Take:

Be skeptical the next time someone shows you a number like 120 percent overhead or a standard interest charge. Ask whether the average (and that’s what it is) should really apply to your transaction. (…) List prices, standard products, and discount schedules are negotiable. Why? Because they represent averages. They were designed to fit the average customer at some average period of time. You are you. You are not the average. Take it from there. Averages are always negotiable.

How do you deal with averages? Do you use them as a guideline or do you discount them completely?

THE PROGRAM WAS GREAT! MY SEMINAR LEADER AND THE STRUCTURE OF THE COURSE KEPT ME CONSTANTLY STIMULATED. I NOW AM BETTER PREPARED TO GO INTO AN IMPORTANT NEGOTIATION MEETING AND STAY IN CONTROL, WHILE FINISHING THE MEETING SATISFIED.

Deanna D.

CASE MANAGER at THE JACKSON LABORATORY

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Jeff G.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER at THE M.K. MORSE COMPANY

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CHIEF ENGINEERING MANAGER at EXXONMOBIL

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SENIOR ANALYST at BLUE CROSS/BLUE SHIELD OF MICHIGAN

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PROCUREMENT at AMERICAN EXPRESS

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SENIOR STRATEGIC BUYER at HALLMARK

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INTERNATIONAL SOURCING at FMC TECHNOLOGIES

WE NEGOTIATE EVERY DAY OF OUR LIVES, BOTH PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY. THIS COURSE DEFINES THE PROCESS AND PROVIDES TECHNIQUES TO ACHIEVE SUCCESSFUL RESULTS.

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VICE PRESIDENT at GE

PRIOR TO THIS CLASS I FELT AS THOUGH I WAS GETTING EATEN ALIVE BY INTERNAL NEGOTIATIONS WITH SALES REPS. NOW I FEEL PREPARED TO CHALLENGE WHAT THEY ARE SAYING AND BET TO THEIR REAL NEEDS.

Steve Q.

PLANNER at HONEYWELL

MANY PEOPLE FAIL TO ACHIEVE THEIR POTENTIAL BECAUSE THEY DON’T SEE THE OPPORTUNITIES TO NEGOTIATE A WIN/WIN AGREEMENT WITH THEIR COLLEAGUES. THIS CLASS IS AN EYE OPENER TO THIS DYNAMIC..

Stuart B.

CONTRACTS MANAGER at HEWLETT-PACKARD

Negotiating in Life, Negotiating Tips, Business Negotiation April 11, 2011Is there such a thing as average?

Negotiating in Life, Negotiating Tips, Business Negotiation April 11, 2011
Is there such a thing as average?