Understanding the other side
As Harvard Business Review states, the first step is slightly to set aside your own interests and ego, and view the entire discussion through the eyes of the other party, or both parties if you are just a facilitator. How do all the participants perceive the situation? Why are they holding their ground so strongly and what is behind their demands? What is the limit they can never go beyond and where is there room for compromise? In order to resolve a negotiation successfully, you first need to understand what is actually at stake and why people hold the point of view they do.
Reassuring all participants their opinion is relevant and no one is being ignored
It is necessary not just to understand the motivations of the participants in the negotiations but also express aloud their demands and objectively defensible motivations, and show an understanding of them. Thus a good step in any negotiation is to pause the discussion for a moment and, if possible, independently summarise what the parties are trying to achieve, what is essential to them and why their demands are understandable and relevant. This will let everyone know that you comprehend their motivations and will take these into account. It will also allow people to take a slightly more detached view of the situation.
Proposing a compromise
Once you are clear about what everyone wants and what everyone's priorities are, propose a compromise - possibly one that no one has yet thought of. Go to the heart of the problem and try to come up with a solution that really benefits everyone.
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