As I've coached senior leaders in communication skills for the past three decades, I've had opportunity to observe 10 habits that set successful negotiators apart from their less-successful colleagues. These communication habits may help you in the new year as you strive to get a better job, close bigger deals, and expand your influence.

1. Successful negotiators listen to a complete thought expressed. Their less successful colleagues assume they know what the other person "is driving at" so they interrupt often, missing much of the message.

2. Successful negotiators practice focused attention. Their less successful coworkers often set themselves up for failure. They become easily distracted with email, texts, electronic gadgets, or passers-by. They try to multi-task (which, of course, is simply rapid attention switching). In doing so, they let their mind wander off topic--again missing key information.

3. Successful negotiators take notes on what they hear. The less successful assume they will remember what they hear, and seldom make notes or recap after the fact. Or they take notes only to refute the other person's points.

Read more at the HuffingtonPost.com [HERE].