Negotiations range from the usual adversarial and confrontational modeto a cooperative mode in which both parties seek to design a way forward.

There is usually a lot of jockeying for position. There is a need to make suggestions and also a need to ask for things specifically. There is a need to express feelings and responses.

In negotiations standard situations repeat themselves again and again. A code provides a shorthand way of dealing with standard situations. As usual, a code also provides clarity and removes ambiguity.

A code removes the need to be emotional or to show emotions.

Just as there are formal sequences of moves in a chess game so codes can be put together to create such sequences in negotiation.

If both parties are not fully aware of the codes then code lists can be provided for both parties - or they can be put on the wall of the meeting room.