Peace Talks Will Feng Shui give you the edge in your negotiations?

Part mysticism, part custom and part common sense, Feng Shui is the Chinese practice of designing living environments for optimum harmony. The aim is to harness the unseen universal energy called qi (pronounced chee) and create a balance among the five elements (earth, fire, metal, water and wood) in order to obtain health, happiness and prosperity. Serious practitioners claim Feng Shui can dramatically influence all aspects of our lives, including our business deals.

Certainly, negotiators can't afford to ignore their surroundings. So whether we bargain at our place or theirs, the chosen location affects each side's comfort, mobility and power. Decór and ambience influence mood-and deal-making in the boardroom is different from dealmaking at the beach.

However, Feng Shui incorporates other factors into our analysis-some are easy to accept; some are not. When applied to negotiation, Feng Shui emphasizes location (ti tian), compatibility of the parties (hsiang rong) and timing (chun si). For instance, a spacious, well-lighted foyer is considered auspicious. But long, rectangular tables are not. And when you can, negotiate near a fountain or aquarium. Regardless of your familiarity with Feng Shui, all these statements probably feel about right.