Many TV watchers are abuzz about the return of the hit HBO series Succession. The prestige drama doubles as a withering lens into the complex relationships, power dynamics, and jargon often found in corporate America. The first episode of season four, which aired on March 26, offers a moment of reflection on the pitfalls to which business leaders often succumb in high-stakes negotiations. And negotiations go wrong in real life all the time.
What HBO’s “Succession” Can Teach Us About Negotiating
Sometimes when you win, you also lose.
March 31, 2023
Claudette Barius/HBO
Summary.
The season four opener of the HBO series Succession features a contest between media tycoon Logan Roy and his children to acquire another media empire. The episode showcases classic mistakes that negotiators often make in high-stakes situations. The five lessons: avoid offers you can’t justify, frame your proposal, anchors are sticky, emotions can derail negotiations, and negotiate process, not just substance.