The main difference between principled negotiation and positional bargaining is the way each strategy views the procedural goals of negotiation. While both agree that negotiators’
substantive goal is to fulfill their (or their constituents’) interests, positional bargaining assumes that the
procedural goal is to defeat the other side in a conflict. Principled negotiation, however, assumes that the procedural goal is to reach the best possible agreement as quickly and painlessly as possible. In other words, positional bargaining views negotiation as a situation of conflict, while principled negotiation views negotiation as an opportunity for collaboration.