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You want to get as much control of a negotiation as you can. One way you can do this is to volunteer any time you can during the negotiations. Volunteer to prepare the agenda; volunteer to draft ground rules; to type up the day's notes; volunteer to frame the issues; to get comparable figures from the internet; and volunteer to prioritize the issues. I think you get the idea: volunteer!

Preparing the agenda is a tactical advantage because you can determine who goes first and make some preliminary suggestions as to the order and priority of topics. Being in charge of the note-taking is an advantage as long as it is done accurately and in a timely fashion. Using your computer and your software makes it less likely that a mistake is made in the final language.

The other side may be strapped for time or not want to take on any additional responsibilities and accept your offer to take on these projects. Although volunteering may mean extra work, it will usually pay off in the long run. Volunteering is a way to control the direction of the negotiations and get your opinions and solutions out front and center. Of course, if you are sloppy and make mistakes, than volunteering is not going to be an advantage; it could be a real detriment if you start confusing yourself and the other side. If you do volunteer, make sure you have the time to do the tasks correctly and don't make mistakes.