The Worst Negotiation Ever

Honestly, today's negotiation couldn't have gone worse.

The meeting invite was sent with the subject: "We're not leaving that room without a signature" and the last time that a meeting request was sent out, both teams stayed from 10am till 2am the following day.

Luckily for me I wasn't part of the previous meeting but I imagined it would probably have gone the same way and so I had a hearty lunch and prepared myself mentally the same way I would before a marathon. I walked into the meeting thinking that was going to be long, mentally draining exercise that would require all the mental and physical stamina that I have at my disposal. I was correct, just not in the way that I expected.

Both company heads (or in the clients side a representative) walked into the meeting along with the heavyweights from each department: legal, finance, commercials, and myself representing operations. Similar representation from the other side and I thought to myself "let the games begin".

Within 60 minutes, the heavyweights from the other side left for various reasons and everything went downhill quickly. What was verbally agreed between the heads of both companies was suddenly reversed and we found ourselves staring at an agreement that was alien to myself and the Contract Manager (we wrote the entire contract between us).

The only non-negotiable item that they have been silent on for the last 3 months was taken out of the contract and I found myself fighting a battle that I was unprepared for - since I wasn't expecting them to. The next 4 hours was worthy of an Shakespearean Soliloquy since both sides refused to budge on that one single point and defended their positions with incredible eloquence and logic.

I find myself drained emotionally and was getting more than a little emotional; I was ashamed to say that each time my tempers boiled it was quickly quelled by either the big boss or the Contract Manager, JM. Both veteran in these boardrooms. The big boss asked me at point blank whether it's possible for us to fold on this point and I maintained my position - "this is not negotiable!"

I no longer have no doubt that this meeting was a set up; the whole thing was a trap. The big wigs from the other side agreed verbally to our suggestions and we walked in thinking it was just mere formality and that the correct legal wording was all that was needed.  Then the decision makers quickly left the meeting and never returned despite promises to do so and then refuted all verbal agreements over the phone when we tried to reach them. They then took the position that they knew we would never agree to - pommel us until we submit or until we had enough and just end the negotiations.  Eventually by 7pm we did the latter and I suspect that was the objective: to blame us for the breakdown in negotiations and any eventual fallout if an agreement was not met within the next 24 hours deadline.

Our suspicion they have finally came to the startling conclusion that their house of cards are coming down on top of their heads and they need a scape goat. On a personal front that's fine, again nothing personal merely business and they were merely looking after their own interests. However, if the big boss was to fold this time round I think I can turn in my resignation when my contract comes to an end. If they choose to fight this, I would fight with all strength even if it's a losing battle; but if he betrays our team again for the second time, then I see no future in staying.