What does it take to become an effective negotiator? According to popular belief, a set of innate qualities is required. However, the argument of several books on negotiation support that, with the right instruments, everyone can become a successful negotiator. These two perspectives are merely crude caricatures of reality. Sophisticated negotiators have the ability to identify critical pieces of information that allow the unraveling of the negotiation puzzle. The recognition of typical negotiation patterns allows them to diagnose problems quickly and accurately. While these qualities are partially innate, they are greatly developed through experience.