Blog

Our monthly blog

Each month, we muse about some aspect of negotiation, gamification or philanthropy and its effect on our work and world. Comments welcome!
If you want to take part in the discussion, you are kindly invited to join our group 'Gamification and Negotiation' on LinkedIn.

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December 2022

A RAY OF NEGOTIATION HOPE: Lebanon and Israel reach a historic agreement

This month, I was “pleased to notice” (to borrow a phrase from our seminars) a rare negotiation success in the Middle East:  the recently concluded gas exploration deal reached just weeks ago by Israel and Lebanon.

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November 2022

BEYOND “NEVER SPLITTING THE DIFFERENCE“: A Worthy Challenge to Win-Win?

In almost every seminar I have offered in recent months, at least one participant asks me what I think of Chris Voss and his book and Master Class on “Never Split the Difference”? He it is!

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October 2022

GET AWAY FROM THE TABLE: The Importance of Informal Diplomacy

Diplomats are usually known for their strict protocol, especially when engaged in formal negotiations. This is for good reason, as this etiquette aims to ensure equal participation of all parties in the debate.

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September 2022

The Powerhouse Series III with Corinne Momal-Vanian: Is philanthropy adapting to our chaotic world?

It was thrilling to see all your faces and smiles at our 3rd Powerhouse Session online on Monday, Sep 5!

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September 2022

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER: The Surprising Back Channel Schumer-Manchin Deal

Not only Washington D.C. was shocked and buzzing on August 2 when Chuck Schumer and Joe Manchin announced they had clinched a deal on the Biden Administration’s climate change bill. How did this historic negotiation come about?

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August 2022

THE DANCE OF LEADERSHIP: Leading and negotiating in the ballroom

The negotiation of a well-orchestrated political response toward Russia has been challenging EU member states with ever new tests of cohesion for weeks now, calling for a more forceful and skillful style of negotiation.

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July 2022

HIMALAYAN DANCE: Nepal’s clever fuel negotiations with India and China

On the occasion of this month’s visit to Nepal (first teaching, then trekking and visiting a monastery) I was struck again by the courage and tenacity of this tiny country wedged between the giants of China and India. 

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June 2022

PHILANTHROPY WITH CONNECTION: Helping out in Ukraine

As the situation has worsened in Ukraine over the past ten weeks, we at Rational Games have also wrestled with the question of what we can do to help with our limited means.  Where best to give and how to ensure there is an impact? 

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May 2022

HE MUST BE CRAZY: Negotiating with Irrational Partners

Most of the world continues to hold its breath waiting for what might happen next in Russia’s war. The long line of heads of state and other dignitaries who made the trip to Moscow largely share the same estimation: he must be crazy.

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April 2022

THE INFINITE GAME OF BUSINESS: Inspirations from Simon Sinek

“There are at least two kinds of games in life. One could be called finite, the other infinite. A finite game is played for the purpose of winning, an infinite game for the purpose of continuing the play.”

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