How to succeed at hard conversations: Chris Voss

bigIdeas

Hey

This week, I am bringing you ideas not from a book, but from a podcast between Dr Huberman and Chris Voss, an expert in negotiation and former FBI agent, who shares his unique insights on tackling difficult conversations in various contexts.

From his experiences in high-risk, high-stakes situations, Chris Voss emphasizes the significance of emotional intelligence, active listening, and understanding the other party’s viewpoint in successful negotiations.

What am I reading this week: Mojo: How to Get It, How to Keep It (How to Get It Back If You Lose It)

And now, back to bigIdeas from this conversation 👇

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Humanizing Oneself in High-Stakes Situations

In high-risk situations, humanizing oneself can increase survival chances.

Sharing personal details can make it harder for the perpetrator to harm an individual they see as a human being rather than an anonymous victim.

Anything you could do to humanize yourself and comply with what the bad guys want increases your chance of survival. – Chris Voss

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Mirroring as a Negotiation Tool

Mirroring, or repeating a few words of what someone has just said, is a simple but effective negotiation tool.

It encourages the other party to elaborate on their thoughts and feelings, leading to a more insightful conversation.

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Inoculation Against Negative Emotions

Acknowledging a potential negative reaction before it arises can prevent that reaction from occurring.