Actually, slightly rephrased, it's a reasonable thing to consider for any non-trivial interaction: "What are your stakes here?" Even with the best of intention

Actually, slightly rephrased, it's a reasonable thing to consider for any non-trivial interaction: "What are your stakes here?" Even with the best of intentions, people are complex and complex transactions between two or more of them are complex-squared. Taking the time to make sure both parties understands what the other does and doesn't bring to the table is important for success.