Noa Sheer recently appeared on the Australian podcast Rolling Through Negotiations. In this insightful interview, Noa and Matthew discuss how understanding true interests; thorough preparation; and empathy are crucial for success. They talk through some of the negotiation fears Noa sees in her work, and why human connection and relationship-building make negotiation an inherently human endeavour that is irreplaceable by AI.
Business development is not selling, it is diagnosing. In my work with senior leaders across Australasia, I see one pattern again and again. The people who excel at winning clients, influencing decisions, and securing commitment are not the loudest, or the most “sales focused.” They are the ones who treat every conversation like a strategic diagnosis.
Read MoreThe key is to reframe from “my preference” to “our bottleneck.” When you make the constraint the star, then you shift from advocate, to architect. This is what leadership influence looks like, solving for the whole, not just for yourself. Read more in this article about controlling the architecture of the choices on the table.
Read MoreEffective Negotiation Skills are critical skills in most industries, but in Construction, multiple negotiations are happening on a daily basis; with staff, sub-contractors and clients. Fred McNeil honed his negotiation skills through Sheer Negotiations and Noa Sheer over ten years ago. In this interview Fred reflects on how they have impacted his career and become embedded in his own leadership style.
Read MoreIn conversation between Noa Sheer and Tyler Thompson, both underscore the fundamental transferable skills and principles of negotiation as they apply to either a ceasefire negotiation or a complex corporate negotiation. Understanding alternatives, meticulous planning, strategic sequencing, and recognising institutional dynamics remain universally applicable for successful negotiation.
Read MoreInfluence does not have to feel like a performance. When you anchor your asks in shared value and enterprise need, you stay authentic, avoid backlash, and still secure what matters. Find out more about this essential leadership skill for women.
Read MoreLeadership influence is not just about the meeting, it is about the memory. Shape the narrative, document your wins, and your reputation will grow on the foundation of evidence, not noise. Own the narrative and you own the impact. In this article we unpack this essential leadership skill.
Read MoreInfluence is designed, not demanded. The next time you step into a negotiation or high-stakes meeting, ask yourself, how can I set the frame before the content? This small shift will change the conversation in your favour. Find out more about setting the rules of the game so you can set the negotiation outcome.
Read MoreSenior leaders are not looking for people who pull them back into the day-to-day detail. Quite the opposite. They want people who can handle complex conversations independently, who can take accountability for results, and who can manage conflicts and relationships with maturity and foresight.
Read MoreCollaboration is not compromise, and it is not the absence of competition. It is a deliberate, structured process of uncovering and maximising value for all parties, often in ways that go far beyond the obvious “win-win” outcome. To understand this, it helps to look at where the concept first entered negotiation thinking.
Read MoreOne of the most empowering tools in a negotiator’s toolkit. Your BATNA is your best course of action if the current negotiation does not result in agreement. It is your fallback plan. Not a threat, not a bluff, but a real alternative path to achieving your interests.
Read MoreMany of the books in this list are on my bookshelf. All are vetted. The list blends core negotiation classics, valuable insights for women negotiators, and adjacent literature in economics, psychology, and rhetoric that broaden a negotiator’s perspective. This list is not for passive reading. Use it. Debate with it. Take notes in the margins. Try the ideas in your next negotiation.
Read MoreOne of the most interesting things I’ve observed over the past few years is a quiet behavioural divide emerging in leadership circles, not based on personality or style, but on how leaders approach negotiation. Read more about what leaders are doing in preparation for a negotiation here.
Read MoreThere’s a shift happening. Leaders across banking, finance, and energy are beginning to treat negotiation as a technical discipline; not a soft skill. They plan, they prepare, and they are securing stronger outcomes from their negotiations across the board. This quiet revolution is already underway.
Read MoreNoa Sheer is speaking at the Waikato Waahine Event through the Waikato Chamber of Commerce on 17 June 2025. An event focussed on empowering women. Breaking barriers and building futures. Noa will bring researched based, practical content on negotiation skills, tactics and perspectives.
Read More"The most important parts of a negotiation often happen before the first offer is even made." — Noa Sheer. The most strategic negotiators know that the real negotiation begins well before the formal conversation starts. Preparation isn’t just about facts and figures—it’s about narrative, agency, and positioning.
Read MoreCreating value is where negotiation turns from zero-sum to transformative. It requires a mindset of generosity, curiosity, and mastery of nuance. So before you settle for an equitable outcome, be sure you understand what’s “on the table” and how best to divide it up.
Read MoreFairness in a negotiation is relational - it’s not something you can assume in your first meeting. Demanding equal give-and-take in every situation is not the reality of a negotiation. Reciprocity might occur across months or even years. In the end, the concept of fairness is a perception and this is where we teach the principle of anchoring. Find out more in this article.
Read MoreThe Salary Conversation Everyone Dreads – and How to Master It. Why is negotiating your salary often more stressful than sealing a multi-million dollar deal? In this episode of Questioning Gurus Noa Sheer unpacks the salary negotiation scenario with the podcast team.
Read MoreAt its core, effective negotiation is a conversation aimed at reaching an agreement that benefits everyone involved. Recognising how to read the room, anticipate objections, and find common ground are key skills that can be developed over time.
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