It was early December at the North Pole, and the workshop was buzzing—not with cheer, but with tension. The elves had been grumbling for weeks. Long hours, outdated tools, and too-short candy breaks had pushed them to the edge. Some were even whispering about a strike.
Santa knew he had to act fast. He called a meeting in the grand workshop. The elves shuffled in, ears twitching nervously, tools clutched tightly in their hands.
“Alright, everyone,” Santa began, stroking his beard, “I want to hear exactly what’s troubling you.”
Jingle, the head elf, stepped forward. “Santa, the hours are too long, the machines are breaking down, and our candy breaks… well, they’re basically nonexistent.”
Santa nodded thoughtfully. “I understand. I want you all to be happy and productive—but we also need to make sure every child gets their gifts on time. So here’s my proposal: rotating schedules to reduce overtime, upgraded toy-making tools, and a weekly cocoa break.”
The elves exchanged glances. It was more than they expected—but Santa paused. “In return,” he continued, “I need your help with something new. We’re testing a Turbo Sleigh Assembly Line this year. It will speed up production and make it possible to finish all the toys without extra overtime—but I’ll need you to help me get it up and running.”
A murmur ran through the elves. They wanted better conditions—but the request wasn’t unreasonable. Jingle tilted his head, then smiled. “Alright, Santa. We’ll do it—but only if the cocoa breaks come with extra marshmallows.”
Santa chuckled. “Deal.”
By the end of the meeting, the elves were back at their stations, energised and motivated. Santa had preserved Christmas, improved working conditions, and gained their cooperation on the new assembly line. Everyone left the table feeling like a winner.
On Christmas Eve, the sleigh took off smoothly, every gift delivered, every elf proud of their work. It was a perfect example of negotiation in action: knowing what you want, listening carefully, shaping proposals, and finding mutual benefit.
And somewhere in the North Pole, elves sipped cocoa, toasted with marshmallows, and smiled at a holiday miracle made possible by careful negotiation.
By the way, Santa made a couple of schoolboy errors there, a mince pie to the first person to point them out to me!
