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Chief Negotiator

Chief Negotiator

Chief Negotiator – Negotiation Skills Activity

Category: Games & Activities Time: 45–60 minutes Groups: 6 (size flexible) Mode: Competitive

Overview

This competitive simulation gives teams a quick, hands-on round of negotiating under pressure. Each team makes secret choices, builds alliances, and manages trust while chasing points. You’ll see how moves that help your team can hurt others, and how fast trust is gained or lost.

Learning objectives

  • See how competitive and cooperative behaviors change outcomes.
  • Practice trust-building, messaging, and coalition moves.
  • Influence others with offers, trades, and time-limited concessions.
  • Shift from adversarial to collaborative problem-solving.

Setup & directions

  • Group formation: Organize participants into 6 groups (size is flexible).
  • Rounds: Play 10 rounds. In each round, every group secretly chooses Option A or Option B on paper.
  • Collection & scoring: Collect all choices and score them using the scoring table.
  • Negotiation windows: On rounds 5, 8, and 9, each group appoints a Chief Negotiator to meet others briefly and try to influence choices.
  • Multipliers: To raise stakes, use scoring on round 8 and on round 10.
  • Customization: Adjust scoring or group count if you have fewer than six groups.

Round flow (10 rounds)

  1. Internal huddle (30–60s): Teams decide A or B.
  2. Secret choice: Each team writes A or B on a slip and hands it in.
  3. Reveal & tally: Facilitator reveals all choices and applies the scoring table.
  4. Short reflection (20–30s): What changed trust or tactics? Then move on.
Scoring table
CombinationAmount won/lost
All choose AEveryone loses $2
Five choose A; one chooses BA’s win $2; the lone B loses $10
Four choose A; two choose BA’s win $4; B’s lose $8
Three choose A; three choose BA’s win $6; B’s lose $6
Two choose A; four choose BA’s win $8; B’s lose $4
One chooses A; five choose BThe A wins $10; B’s lose $2
All choose BEveryone wins $2

Apply 2× on round 8 and 3× on round 10 if you’re using multipliers.

Score multipliers & variants

  • Use scoring on round 8 and on round 10 to increase competitiveness.
  • For time‑boxed sessions, reduce to 6–8 rounds or skip a negotiation window.

Debrief & discussion

  • What emotions surfaced when teams felt betrayed or misled?
  • Which behaviors inspired or damaged trust within and across teams?
  • Did losing teams wait for others to change, or did they proactively influence outcomes?
  • How did assertive vs. aggressive messaging impact cooperation and results?
  • Where did competition help, and where did collaboration pay off?

Facilitator tips

  • Observe and guide reflection on trust‑building and power dynamics.
  • Help participants manage strong emotions constructively.
  • Encourage strategic thinking that balances self‑interest with group benefit.
  • Provide real‑time score updates to drive engagement and informed decisions.
  • Frame debrief around coalition‑building and interest‑based dialogue.

Virtual adaptations

  • Use breakout rooms for group negotiations.
  • Collect confidential choices with digital polls or forms.
  • Share scores live via chat or a collaborative whiteboard.

Trainer note: You can swap the sample matrix for your own. Keep outcomes simple and easy to tally fast.

  • Negotiation Skills – Negotiating for Results – complete, editable package. View package →
  • Conflict Resolution Skills – handle conflict constructively. View package →

Free assessment tools & quizzes

FAQ

Can I run this activity online?

Yes. Use breakout rooms for team huddles, share the scoring matrix via screen share, and collect secret choices in a chat DM or form.

How many people does it support?

Works well with 12–30 participants in teams of 3–5. For larger groups, run parallel rooms.

Can I change the scoring matrix?

Absolutely. Keep it simple and consistent. Adjust values to increase tension or reward collaboration.

What should I debrief?

Trust signals, alliance behavior, short‑term vs. long‑term gains, and how decisions map to real workplace negotiations.

Which training packages pair best?

Negotiating for Results, Conflict Resolution, and Influencing People.

Any prep I should do?

Print or project the matrix, prepare tally sheets, decide on 1–2 twists, and test the timer and preview modal.

Get started now

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