Maybe it's the fear of rejection or the daunting prospect of a one-on-one with a boss, but one thing is clear: People don't like to negotiate.

Masterful negotiation is among the most valuable skills of the C-level executive. Negotiation is a critical part of a finance chief's dealings, whether with vendors, customers, or other external business partners, or with colleagues. Moreover, negotiation skills can be invaluable in career-related conversations.

What to do - and what not to do - when defining outsourcing relationships, negotiating new terms and setting KPIs and SLAs.

Having trouble winning over that one key person at work? Expert negotiators at the FBI and elsewhere have found active listening to be key in any negotiation. Here are seven keys to active listening.