Blog: The Negotiation Edge

The Black Swan Group is here to call “bullshit” on compromise—exactly as we did in our book. Here are two reasons why.

Are you spending more than you need to on utilities?

Almost certainly, if we’re being honest. Renegotiating your utility bills on a regular basis is a great way to get low-stakes practice of our negotiation skills.

The first two keys to effective emails are simple:

First things first: Watch this absolutely hilarious Chris Voss TEDx talk on tactical empathy.

How do we know whether our counterpart is serious or just taking a position to try to outmaneuver us? And how do we protect the relationship while we find out?

There are generally three ways to think about leverage in negotiations:

Our company used to say, “Yes is nothing without how.” But after years of negotiations, we’ve realized that this isn’t completely accurate. In reality, yes means nothing. How is everything.

After receiving an offer, you may be asking yourself, “How do I know I got everything that I could have gotten?”

If you’re looking to sustain a competitive advantage, make a habit out of reading. Devoting yourself to just one chapter a night will keep negotiating tactics top of mind and turn you into a natural.

As a professional negotiator, I’ve witnessed a fair share of negotiation mishaps and mistakes. When conversations and deals fall apart, it’s usually not because of anything the other side said. More often, it’s because the lead negotiator unintentionally sabotaged themselves. Below, I’ve outlined the three most common ways that people take themselves hostage in negotiations—and how to overcome them.