---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Great negotiators never lose sight of…"
description: "\"Great negotiators never lose sight of what they are aiming at, which is not an agreement per se, but a desired outcome…Getting to yes is easy, all you ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d11/robert-gallucci-79784_agreement_great-negotiators-never-lose-sight-of-wh_3218332.png"
---

#  Great negotiators never lose sight of what they are aiming…

![“Great negotiators never lose sight of what they are aiming at, which is not an agreement per se, but a desired outcome…Getting to yes is easy, all you have to do is roll over. It's getting what you want that's hard.” quote by Robert Gallucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d11/robert-gallucci-79784_agreement_great-negotiators-never-lose-sight-of-wh_3218332.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d11/robert-gallucci-79784_agreement_great-negotiators-never-lose-sight-of-wh_3218332.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d11/robert-gallucci-79784_agreement_great-negotiators-never-lose-sight-of-wh_3218332.png)

> “Great negotiators never lose sight of what they are aiming at, which is not an agreement per se, but a desired outcome…Getting to yes is easy, all you have to do is roll over. It's getting what you want that's hard.”

[Robert Gallucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-gallucci/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Negotiators focus on outcomes, not just agreements; achieving goals is harder than saying yes.

**In simple terms:** Focus on desired results, not just agreements.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize outcomes over mere agreement.

Themes

negotiation outcome strategy goal focus

Mood

strategic determined

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

- business deals
- contract discussions
- conflict resolution

Key Concepts

goal orientation strategic thinking communication

Questions to Reflect On

- What outcome truly matters?
- How can you align interests?

A Different Perspective

Overemphasis on agreement can neglect underlying interests.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Agreement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agreement/) [Aiming Agreement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aiming-agreement-6040683/) [Easy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easy/) [Getting what you want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/getting-what-you-want/) [Getting Yes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/getting-yes-1817942/) [Great Negotiators](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-negotiators-2457297/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Loses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loses/) [Negotiation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negotiation/) [Negotiators](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negotiators-1239449/) [Negotiators Lose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negotiators-lose-6040684/) [Outcomes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outcomes/) [Over it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/over-it/) [Sight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sight/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [What you want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/what-you-want/)

## Related quotes

> [“Good negotiators, going in, know they have to be ready for possible surprises; great negotiators aim to use their skills to reveal the surprises…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-voss/good-negotiators-going-in-know-they-have-to-be-ready-for-possible/)

[Chris Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-voss/)

> [I have Carl Icahn ready to go out and do battle. And I have many others that are great negotiators, ready to go out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-have-carl-icahn-ready-to-go-out-and-do-battle-and-i-have-many/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [Successful negotiation is not about getting to 'yes'; it's about mastering 'no' and understanding what the path to an agreement is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-voss/successful-negotiation-is-not-about-getting-to-yes-it-s-about/)

[Christopher Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-voss/)

> [In law school, we studied the famous book 'Getting to Yes,' co-written by the head of the Harvard Law School Negotiation Project.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-o-toole/in-law-school-we-studied-the-famous-book-getting-to-yes-co-written-by/)

[Erin O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-o-toole/)

> [I can tell the negotiators, please, when you consider all the options, do not be constrained by the risk of an oil embargo on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-mandil/i-can-tell-the-negotiators-please-when-you-consider-all-the-options/)

[Claude Mandil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-mandil/)

> [Effective negotiators have a style that those whom they are trying to influence, relate to and admire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-mcgraw/effective-negotiators-have-a-style-that-those-whom-they-are-trying-to/)

[Phil McGraw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-mcgraw/)

> [The difficulty that negotiators have is often based on the cultural difference that various countries have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-lagarde/the-difficulty-that-negotiators-have-is-often-based-on-the-cultural/)

[Christine Lagarde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-lagarde/)

> [Agreement reached by the negotiators?usually starts to collapse in the hands of those who implement it, no matter how carefully cleared at the top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-p-bush/agreement-reached-by-the-negotiators-usually-starts-to-collapse-in/)

[George P. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-p-bush/)

> [I think a great negotiator is an aggressive negotiator, and we're aggressive negotiators, We're not worried about someone coming at us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-konner/i-think-a-great-negotiator-is-an-aggressive-negotiator-and-we-re/)

[Jennifer Konner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-konner/)

> [A mediator is an impartial outsider who tries to aid the negotiators in their quest to find a compromise agreement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-raiffa/a-mediator-is-an-impartial-outsider-who-tries-to-aid-the-negotiators/)

[Howard Raiffa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-raiffa/)

> [We're all negotiators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-steinberg/we-re-all-negotiators/)

[Leigh Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-steinberg/)

> [“Your goal at the outset is to extract and observe as much information as possible. Which, by the way, is one of the reasons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-voss/your-goal-at-the-outset-is-to-extract-and-observe-as-much-information/)

[Chris Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-voss/)

> [Create the impression of endless willingness to compromise and you almost invite deadlines. That's the challenge we now have in North Korea and have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/create-the-impression-of-endless-willingness-to-compromise-and-you/)

[Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/)

> [There are a lot of negotiators that really will give in on a deal because being understood is more important than getting what they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-voss/there-are-a-lot-of-negotiators-that-really-will-give-in-on-a-deal/)

[Christopher Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-voss/)

> [Most negotiators are trying to get their way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/most-negotiators-are-trying-to-get-their-way/)

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

## More by Robert Gallucci

> [There is reason to say that negotiations with the North Koreans are not easy, they may not succeed, but they may be a way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-gallucci/there-is-reason-to-say-that-negotiations-with-the-north-koreans-are/)

[Robert Gallucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-gallucci/)

> [The most dangerous country for the U.S. now is Pakistan. ... We haven't been this vulnerable since the British burned Washington in 1814.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-gallucci/the-most-dangerous-country-for-the-u-s-now-is-pakistan-we-haven-t/)

[Robert Gallucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-gallucci/)

[Explore all 3 Robert Gallucci quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-gallucci/)

## More Agreement quotes

> [Therefore, I see whatever exists as good, death is to me like life, sin like holiness, wisdom like foolishness, everything has to be as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/therefore-i-see-whatever-exists-as-good-death-is-to-me-like-life-sin/)

[Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/)

> [There's no way to have a peace agreement unless the mediator or negotiator looks at both sides from an equal basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/there-s-no-way-to-have-a-peace-agreement-unless-the-mediator-or/)

[Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/)

> [Biochemists and biologists who adhere blindly to the Darwinism theory search for results that will be in agreement with their theories and consequently orient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-paul-grasse/biochemists-and-biologists-who-adhere-blindly-to-the-darwinism-theory/)

[Pierre-Paul Grasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-paul-grasse/)

> [In coming to that agreement, my party had a clear philosophy throughout. In Northern Ireland, we should have institutions that respected the differences of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hume/in-coming-to-that-agreement-my-party-had-a-clear-philosophy/)

[John Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hume/)

> [Identity is not negotiable. An identity you have achieved by agreement is always a prison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-john-harrison/identity-is-not-negotiable-an-identity-you-have-achieved-by-agreement/)

[M. John Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-john-harrison/)

> [I am formally accountable to the steering board of the PIC, and I meet with nine ambassadors from the PIC every week. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-ashdown/i-am-formally-accountable-to-the-steering-board-of-the-pic-and-i-meet/)

[Paddy Ashdown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-ashdown/)

> [Because countries often have differing political and economic systems, agreements are needed to protect those invested in trade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/because-countries-often-have-differing-political-and-economic-systems/)

[David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/)

> [As long as I sit at Henry Clay's desk, I will remember his lifelong desire to forge agreement, but I will also keep close…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/as-long-as-i-sit-at-henry-clay-s-desk-i-will-remember-his-lifelong/)

[Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/)

> [Gaia's main problems are not industrialization, ozone depletion, overpopulation, or resource depletion. Gaia's main problem is the lack of mutual understanding and mutual agreement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-wilber/gaia-s-main-problems-are-not-industrialization-ozone-depletion/)

[Ken Wilber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-wilber/)

> [We recognize that NAFTA is a three-country agreement, and we need a three-country negotiation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrystia-freeland/we-recognize-that-nafta-is-a-three-country-agreement-and-we-need-a/)

[Chrystia Freeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrystia-freeland/)

> [At Ohio State University, to avoid being guilty of 'sexual assault' or 'sexual violence,' you and your partner now apparently have to agree on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/at-ohio-state-university-to-avoid-being-guilty-of-sexual-assault-or/)

[Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/)

> [Whatever you perceive, you always make a story with yourself as the main character, and that dictates your life. Then when you read 'The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-angel-ruiz/whatever-you-perceive-you-always-make-a-story-with-yourself-as-the/)

[Miguel Angel Ruiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-angel-ruiz/)

> [ Look at what I am proposing, and we \[wih Bernie Sanders\] have a vigorous agreement here. We both want to reign in the excesses… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/look-at-what-i-am-proposing-and-we-wih-bernie-sanders-have-a-vigorous/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

> [I spoke on the phone with President Rouhani of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The two of us discussed our ongoing efforts to reach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-spoke-on-the-phone-with-president-rouhani-of-the-islamic-republic/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [Netanyahu made all sorts of claims. This was going to be a terrible deal. This was going to result in Iran getting 50 billion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/netanyahu-made-all-sorts-of-claims-this-was-going-to-be-a-terrible/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

[Browse all 1,138 Agreement quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agreement/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Great negotiators never lose sight of what they are aiming at, which is not an agreement per se, but a desired outcome…Getting to yes is easy, all you have to do is roll over. It's getting what you want that's hard.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Robert Gallucci"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-gallucci/great-negotiators-never-lose-sight-of-what-they-are-aiming-at-which/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Agreement"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-gallucci/great-negotiators-never-lose-sight-of-what-they-are-aiming-at-which/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d11/robert-gallucci-79784_agreement_great-negotiators-never-lose-sight-of-wh_3218332.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d11/robert-gallucci-79784_agreement_great-negotiators-never-lose-sight-of-wh_3218332.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d11/robert-gallucci-79784_agreement_great-negotiators-never-lose-sight-of-wh_3218332.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Great negotiators never lose sight of what they are aiming at, which is not an agreement per se, but a…” — Robert Gallucci",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Robert Gallucci",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-gallucci/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Great negotiators never lose sight of...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-gallucci/great-negotiators-never-lose-sight-of-what-they-are-aiming-at-which/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-gallucci/great-negotiators-never-lose-sight-of-what-they-are-aiming-at-which/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
