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Interest Based Dialogue <br />But there’s another framework for negotiation that can take all <br />that energy and channel it in a far more effective direction. <br />Instead of YOU against ME, it’s US against THE PROBLEM. <br />“The problem” is how to work together to make a really good <br />decision—come up with a solution that meets the multiple needs of <br />our constituents. <br />This other framework is called interest based dialogue or <br />negotiation. Instead of focusing on positions, we focus on the <br />interests that make up those positions. The positions are what we <br />want , the interests are why we want it . By breaking it down into <br />interests, there’s room for creative collaboration, room to move <br />around and experiment with potential solutions. <br />We need a translation here, however. Without getting too <br />academic about it, I would like for you to think of our interests as <br />being our beliefs and values. Our positions are what we think will <br />help us get what we want. What we want is our interests—what <br />we believe in and value. What’s important to us. <br />These interests can also be called beliefs and values. Let’s just <br />think of those words interchangeably, unless someone wants to <br />get into a friendly debate about it, which we could certainly have <br />some fun with something. For all practical purposes, let’s make <br />the translation and go on. <br />Here are a couple of examples of positions: <br />1) Water conservation is the only way to solve our water <br />problems. <br />2) New reservoirs are absolutely needed. <br />