Negotiation techniques are no secret

Generally speaking, if I have knowledge in a topic that you don't have, I would typically have an advantage to enter into a discussion with you on that particular topic. For example, if we were competing to see who could design a 100 meter long bridge, I would definitely be the winner if I had knowledge in this area while you did not.

But the field of negotiation is very different! In fact, here it is the opposite that’s true. Meaning that the more your counterpart also knows about how to negotiate the better off you are as well. A good negotiator would for instance, to the greatest possible extent, work to keep all doors open in a negotiation while a less experienced one might be tempted to utilise some very dramatic techniques picked up from one of the many lawyer/police series on TV. And since the latter is a sure way of sabotaging any negotiation you are left with either ending the negotiation or try to “rescue” your counterpart back to the table without them losing face, something that can be easier said than done.

In conclusion, proper negotiation techniques are not something best kept secret. On the contrary, encourage people around you to increase their knowledge on the subject. It will benefit you later.