Map interests (why they need it) not positions…

Before entering shared space negotiations, independently map each party's interests (why they need what they need) rather than their positions (what configuration they want).

When This Fires

Before any negotiation about shared workspace configuration (with roommates, partners, coworkers)
When shared-space conflicts feel zero-sum ("one of us gets the quiet, the other doesn't")
When compromise solutions leave everyone unsatisfied
Complements Write shared environmental agreements with explicit… (written agreements) with the negotiation method that produces agreements worth documenting

Common Failure Mode

Position-based compromise: splitting the difference between two positions without ever surfacing interests. The compromise satisfies neither party's actual need because the positions were proxies for interests that could have been met differently.

The Protocol

(1) Before the negotiation, separately list each party's interests: what do they actually need from the environment, and why? Not "I want the thermostat at 20°C" but "I need to stay alert during afternoon analytical work, and warmth makes me drowsy." (2) For each interest, brainstorm multiple ways to satisfy it — not just the stated position. "Stay alert" could be solved by: temperature, lighting, caffeine timing, workstation orientation, or schedule adjustment. (3) In the negotiation, share interests rather than positions. "I need X because Y" opens collaborative problem-solving; "I want Z" opens positional bargaining. (4) Look for solutions that satisfy both parties' interests simultaneously — often possible when interests are non-competing even though positions are. (5) Document the agreed solution and review it (Write shared environmental agreements with explicit…).