Impasse

I believe that this is a word that no negotiating team wants to hear. To reach this phase there has to be a break down in communication and trust. Communication seems to be the key to all negotiating. Communication can not just happen during the negotiating process. This must occur right after the last contract is signed. Some superintendents handle this through a committee that continually meets throughout the year to find out some of the concerns. Communication during negotiations I believe needs to be straight forward so there is trust that is built up between the two parties. Without trust you will always question every little decision made, such as where to hold the meeting and why. There is never a comfort zone between the two parties. Without communication and trust comes impasse. With impasse comes someone that will do the communication for you. The bad part is that now you really will have to trust someone that you do not know. Do not forget the key parts of negotiating communication and trust.