The monthlong government shutdown reinforced the painful truth that our leaders in Washington are in desperate need of help where negotiation is concerned.

Looking for a solution to the stubborn political division paralyzing our government, a group of current and former congressional staffers has come together with Harvard University and Partnership for a Secure America, a bipartisan nonprofit organization, to study the strategies of master dealmakers. In doing so, we may have stumbled upon a path to managing political disagreements on the Hill.