One of the most vital skills for sealing the deal in a negotiation is the ability to enter, and maintain, the “flow state”– in other words, deeply focused on the matter at hand and fully involved. In an age of  countless distractions and shortening attention spans, this can seem difficult to achieve, but a lack of engagement in a negotiation is a bad look, and often leads to a bad outcome.

In his recent article  for Inc, BigSpeak’s EVP Ken Sterling is a professional mediator, educator and attorney who helps people learn how best to access a flow state, breaking down the process into three simple steps: Prepare, Be Personable, and Be Present. These practices help connect you with your negotiation partner and close more deals.