Change is definitely scary. It’s also unfathomably uncomfortable. After months of existing in a cramped reading nook, I assumed my capabilities had reached an all-time low. I was, very fortunately, safe but stuck at home with no personal growth. My personal stagnation poisoned all parts of my life. I wasn’t learning, engaging, and only buried my head into my work, staring and digesting information that directly affected my microcosm of the world.
This is a very prohibitive mindset. It reaped no results and made me drastically worse. I decided to do something about it instead. I decided to enter the Olympia Critchley Negotiation Competition as a complete novice. My debating experience wasn’t extensive; I had done public representative roles throughout my high school and had some mooting experience. Nothing close to the intricacies of negotiation. I was completely out of my depth. I even reached out to the organisers to make sure that I was eligible to take part. Luckily, they reiterated what I had hoped this experience would be: a safe, open space to learn.
From the outset, my fears of embarking on a lonely journey were quashed. For the competition, I was paired with a fellow student, conducting our meetings only online due to distance and circumstances. Yet, we became friends from our first meeting. Introducing ourselves, dissecting our first task, and gabbling on happily for hours, we immediately recognised the depths of our new competitive partnership. Similar in thinking, degree subject, and approaches in methodology, we approached our tasks clinically and in a parallel fashion.
The first round was undoubtedly the most difficult. It focused on a combination of employment law and football regulation, areas I had no prior knowledge of. However, working with my partner and extending the legal knowledge I did possess, I helped to formulate a strategy that reflected both the intentions of our fictitious client and anticipated the demands expressed by the opposition. On the day of the competition itself, I didn’t wake up with a bout of nerves, which was rather reassuring. Yet, as each hour croaked by, a sense of panic grew stronger. I flipped through my script, reconfirmed my legal knowledge, and called my negotiation partner. Though it provided a final sense of security, it also instilled a destructive stress that triggered my initial fears of change. I began to doubt myself again.
Luckily, as we began, my adrenaline kicked in. I appreciated the context of my own existence, understanding that I was part of an organised and well-prepared team. My opponents were formidable and I had a duty to match their energy and expertise. This culminated in a fluent exchange of ideas and a strong defence of our client. Our 30 minute round flew by in a flurry of excitement and enjoyment, pushing me to improve with every round.
After rounds of film negotiation contracts and hotel development plans, my partner and I reached the finals. This was, as expected, the hardest task. Not only did it concern complex legal matters, but was intertwined with emotional matters on behalf of our client. The vehemence in which these clients demanded specific results meant that our negotiation tactics had to significantly change. When we engaged with our opponent, it was clear that we were on very different trajectories. Reminding ourselves that a negotiation is very different from a debate, we all attempted to utilise our skills to reach smaller agreements, assiduously building up to more stringent demands. Having respect for each other, we operated in a collaborative style, keeping good faith and understanding the weight of our various demands.
After a gruelling final round, it had transpired that my teammate and I had won the competition. It was a feeling of utter happiness and complete shock. I simultaneously felt completely undeserving but also completely proud. By the end of the competition, I had grown into a completely different person. I was no longer quite as nervous at the very notion of public speaking. Nor was I as stifled by my own fear to try new opportunities. It thoroughly changed my perspective on how I could remedy personal blockades and seek something new. Most importantly, it reaffirmed that I owe it to myself to grow and become better. This mindset will help you not only overcome your fears, but seek out different methods of change. It may be a far cry from a feeling of supreme invincibility, but it’s a small step in becoming who you choose to be.