Introducing “The Art of Agreement”

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Summary•3 min read

“The Art of Agreement,” an interview series in which agreement wizards discuss the universal truths about how human beings come to agreement.

“Successful negotiation is not about getting to ‘yes’; it’s about mastering ‘no’ and understanding what the path to an agreement is.” —Former FBI hostage negotiator Chris Voss

Few of us will ever negotiate in high-stakes situations where lives are at risk. But we’re all constantly making agreements, and our skills help determine how well we succeed in our personal and professional lives.

That’s true for a sales rep closing a deal, a job-seeker trying to bump up a salary offer, or a couple trying to decide where to go for dinner. Even those little agreements can be as thorny and consequential as the big ones—just ask any couple.

The fact is, there’s an art to making agreements, and it’s a talent that can be nurtured, developed and mastered with practice. You may hate conflict. You might dread negotiating. You might break out into a cold sweat when you think about asking for a raise or haggling at a car dealership. But you can learn to do it. And no matter how good you are, there’s always more to learn.

Docusign brings agreements to life. It’s in that spirit that we’ve created “The Art of Agreement,” an interview series in which agreement wizards share their tips, tricks and strategies, and discuss the universal truths about how human beings come to agreement.

We’re getting the perspective of experts from unique backgrounds: from a mediator who handles corporate battles and high-net-worth divorce settlements to a marriage counselor who has brought hundreds of couples back from the brink of divorce to the creator of “autonomous negotiation” chatbots that are saving millions of dollars for Walmart and other corporations.

The series begins today with Kim Scott, bestselling author of Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity, and Radical Respect: How to Work Together Better.

At Docusign we believe that learning how to make agreements can improve our work lives, boost the performance of our businesses, and strengthen the bonds we have with others. We hope you’ll agree.