Which negotiation strategy focuses on cooperation to accommodate the other's needs?

• A. Avoiding/Withdrawing
• B. Smoothing
• C. Competing
• D. Cooperating/Accommodating

Answer: (D)

Cooperating/Accommodating is about working with the other person to meet their needs, prioritizing collaboration and the relationship. This approach shows a high concern for the other party and a willingness to yield some of your own demands to reach a solution that benefits both sides. It’s especially effective when the issue isn’t critical to you or when preserving trust and long-term cooperation matters more than winning a single concession. By engaging in joint problem solving, you explore options that satisfy both parties and build goodwill for future interactions.

Other strategies miss this collaborative emphasis. Avoiding/withdrawing sidesteps the issue altogether, smoothing focuses on keeping peace by downplaying differences rather than addressing them, and competing centers on advancing your own interests at the other party’s expense.