Does the word "negotiation" make your blood pressure rise? Whether you're negotiating the biggest deal of your life or where to go for lunch, much of life is negotiation. And, as in a game of chess, the negotiator with the best strategy usually wins. One careless move and the game is lost.

"Even when faced with the most daunting of deals, regarding the act of negotiation as a 'game' may alleviate the apprehension and give you the confidence to make power plays that will ultimately facilitate your desired result," says contract-negotiation expert Eldonna Lewis-Fernandez. Here, from her book Think Like a Negotiator, are the 7 most common negotiating mistakes:

1.     A lack of confidence. Some negotiators believe being loud and brazen will win the day. But generally speaking, tenacity and preparedness are the best approach for finding common ground with an opponent, anticipating his objections and discovering his motivations. Being confident also means showing your humanity, which will put him at ease.