Back

Crossover negotiation

Crossover negotiation

Crossover Negotiation – Conflict & Collaboration Activity

Category: Games & Activities  |  Hits: 1,883  |  Estimated Time: 30–40 minutes

Learning Objectives

  • Challenge the win‑lose mindset and discover creative win‑win solutions.
  • Develop persuasion, active listening, and flexible negotiation skills.
  • Increase awareness of collaborative strategies and interest‑based negotiation.

Materials Needed

  • Masking tape to mark a center line
  • Open space for positioning two rows facing each other
  • Timer or stopwatch
  • Optional: Role cards or scenario prompts to deepen negotiation practice

Activity Instructions

  1. Divide the group into two equal teams.
  2. Line up the teams facing each other with a masking tape line between them.
  3. Each participant faces one partner from the opposite team, forming negotiation pairs.
  4. Explain the goal: Each participant tries to convince their partner to cross the center line and join their side within 1 minute.
  5. Conduct the negotiation rounds, timing each attempt strictly.
  6. For larger groups or extended play, rotate partners to practice with different styles.
  7. After rounds, hold a group discussion and debrief.

Debrief & Discussion Questions

  • How many participants attempted persuasion versus force? What was more effective?
  • What negotiation techniques or arguments worked well?
  • Did any pairs discover win‑win solutions? What did they look like?
  • Did participants assume the negotiations had to result in winners and losers? Why?
  • What insights did the activity provide about natural negotiation habits?

Facilitator Tips

  • Encourage creativity and collaborative approaches, not just persuasion tactics.
  • Celebrate innovative or humorous strategies to keep energy high.
  • Highlight the difference between positional and interest‑based negotiations during debrief.
  • Pace the activity to maintain engagement and allow for adequate reflection.
  • Pair with insights on empathy, mutual gains, and relationship building.

Related Activities

The Orange Negotiation

Objective: Show how uncovering true needs leads to mutually beneficial solutions. Two participants negotiate over one orange where one wants the peel and the other the juice. Without sharing needs, both lose. Once needs are understood, a win‑win solution emerges.

Balloon Balance

Objective: Reveal how assumed competition limits success. Participants believe they are competing, but cooperation yields better outcomes for all.

Virtual Adaptations

  • Use breakout rooms for negotiation pairs.
  • Simulate the center line using virtual backgrounds or shared graphic tools.
  • Use digital timers and chat for observers to capture negotiation tactics for feedback.

Related Training Material Packages

Free Assessment Tools & Quizzes

Get Started Now

Use this engaging crossover negotiation activity to challenge win‑lose thinking and stimulate creative collaboration within your team. Equip participants with foundational skills necessary for successful, interest‑based negotiation.

Download Negotiating for Results Training Package

Training resources from TrainingCourseMaterial.com — instant download, fully editable.


Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the simplest way to introduce win‑win thinking here?

Before the first round, say “Your goal is to get value — not necessarily to win.” After one round, prompt pairs to explore trades and shared outcomes.

How big can the group be?

Very flexible. Create as many pairs as space allows and rotate partners every minute for variety and practice.

Any safety or conduct tips?

Ban physical pulling. Keep it verbal and respectful. Emphasize consent and a learning focus.

What if pairs get stuck in win‑lose arguments?

Pause and coach them to surface interests (“What matters most to you?”), brainstorm options, and test trades.

How do we measure impact after the session?

Have participants log real negotiations for 2–4 weeks and note use of interest‑based moves; pair with the assessments above.

36 Full Courses & 6 Mini Courses.

39 Full Courses & 6 Mini Courses

Get all available programs
& save ...!!

Price: $4499.95 $2995.95

Great Value For Money

Read More
Train The Trainer + Presenting With Impact

The Presenter-Trainer Package®

Train The Trainer

Presenting With Impact

Price: $359.95 $299.95

SAVE $59.95

Read More
Retail Excellence Series

Retail Excellence Series®

3 Complete Courseware
Packages in 1

Frontline Retail Selling Skills

Retail Sales Planning & Forecasting

Passionate Retail Experts

Price: $539.855 $349.95

Pay for 2 Get 1 Free

Read More
Sales excellence series

Sales excellence series®

3 Complete Courseware
Packages in 1

Sales Management

Professional Selling Skills

Sales Territory Planning & Routing

Price: $539.855 $349.95

Pay for 2 Get 1 Free

Read More
Call Center Excellance Series

Call Center Excellence Series®

4 Complete Courseware
Packages in 1

Handling angry and difficult callers

Call control

Find a way to say YES!

Successful telephone debt collection

Price: $719.95 $449.95

Pay for 2 programs and Get 2 programs Free

Read More
Communication Excellence Series

Communication Excellence Series®

4 Complete Courseware
Packages in 1

Communicating with clarity and impact

Negotiating for results

Conflict resolution

Presenting With Impact

Price: $719.95 $449.95

Pay for 2 programs and Get 2 programs Free

Read More
Customer Service Excellence Series

Customer Service Excellence Series®

5 Complete Courseware
Packages in 1

Vision, Energy & Passion To Serve

Pathways to service excellence

Find a way to say YES!

Passionate Retail Experts

Setting others up for success

Price: $899.75 $599.95

Pay for 3 Get 2 Free

Read More

Find Out
Your Leadership
Style

Instant Download Training packages

All you need
to deliver a great training!

Our training material packages come with all you need to provide
a professional and accelerated learning solution with

training-materials-slides2

High Impact
Power Point Slide Deck

To support immersive learning, a high impact professionally designed power point slide deck to engage trainees at all levels.

training-materials-student-workbook2

Student
Workbook

A comprehensive reference workbook you can give out to your class participants as a quick future reference.

training-materials-trainer-guide2222

Trainer
Guide

With step-by-step clear directions with tips and suggestions on what to say and how to present each slide.

excercise-sheets2

Activity
/Exercise Sheets

Various training material and support documents to help you both explain and debrief the different exercises, activities and games Plus a fun final Jeopardy style review game as a fun ending for your training program.

additional-documents2

Additional
Support Documents

To ensure you have all you need to deliver a complete and professional training program, additional supporting documents are included with each full course material package. From training evaluation forms to 5 different certificate templates that you can edit and hand out to your participants at the end of your training.

job_aid_forms2

Job Aids
& Forms

Specific forms designed to extend and reinforce the training that participants can utilize back on the job to help them apply the new learned concepts (Select training material packages)

Get all our training Packages
and Save!

Save over $1500 and Get each full program for under $99.00 & 6 Mini Courses free