The most important thing to do after any negotiation

Taking the lead on the follow-up ensures you aren’t creating space for a participant to second guess or back out.   

As a charity auctioneer who leads nightly bidding wars for worthy nonprofits, it’s not uncommon to run into a winning bidder after the auction ends and I walk offstage. Occasionally, one of them will laughingly confide they spent a great deal more than expected during the auction. Whether it was their competitive nature, the pressure from a crowded room of their peers, or simply that extra glass of wine, their paddle was the last in the air when the gavel hit the podium. One thing was sure: They had less money in their bank account than before the auction.