Annual Awards

Why the Negotiation Stories Awards Exist

Honoring insight, reflection, and lessons drawn from real negotiations

Negotiation Stories was created to highlight the value of learning from real negotiation experiences—especially the moments that are complex, imperfect, and deeply human.

The Negotiation Stories Awards recognize individuals who are willing to reflect openly on real negotiations and share the lessons that emerged. These stories—whether they involve success, failure, or unexpected outcomes—help others see negotiation as it actually unfolds in the real world.

The awards are not about celebrating “winning.” They are about recognizing insight, reflection, and learning.

By elevating these stories, the awards aim to:

Encourage thoughtful reflection on real negotiation experiences
Surface valuable lessons others can learn from
Build a shared body of practical negotiation wisdom
Recognize contributors who advance learning through honesty and insight

Each year, selected stories are honored for the clarity of their narrative, the depth of reflection, and the value of the lessons they offer to the broader community.

2026 Submission Deadline

Submission window will be October 1 through November 15, 2026. All entries must be submitted during this window. Stay tuned for entry details.

Award Categories

Five awards are presented annually—one in each category

U.S. Business
International Business
Peace Process / Diplomacy
Health Care
Other Negotiation Contexts

Applicants may submit to one category only per year.

Prize & Recognition

$250 prize awarded in each categoryPrize amounts may increase in future years.
Public recognition within the Negotiation Stories community.
Featured storytelling opportunity for finalists.

Entry Requirements

To apply, you must:

Be a registered member of Negotiation Stories.
Submit one negotiation story in one award category.
Confirm your willingness to participate as a finalist if selected.

There is no fee to apply.

Finalist Process

Finalists will be notified by December 15, 2026.
Three finalists will be selected in each category.
Finalists will be invited to record their negotiation story (audio or video).
These recordings will be used solely for judging and potential community learning content.

Judging Panel

Entries will be reviewed by Dr. Joshua N. Weiss, creator of Negotiation Stories, along with two experienced colleagues with deep backgrounds in negotiation and conflict resolution.

Judging Criteria

Clarity of the negotiation story.
Compelling and well-articulated dynamics.
Thoughtful discussion of challenges.
Valuable lessons or takeaways.
Honest reflection, whether the outcome was a success, failure, or setback.
Polished outcomes are not required. Insight, reflection, and learning are.

Why These Awards Matter

Negotiation Stories was created to move beyond hypotheticals and surface the lessons that only real experience can provide. These annual awards spotlight negotiations that help others think more clearly, prepare more thoughtfully, and approach conflict with greater skill and humanity.