Next Level Podcast with Jeremy Miner Negotiation Secrets From The FBI with Chris Voss | EP 398
21 snips
Dec 4, 2025 
In this enlightening discussion, Chris Voss, a former FBI lead international kidnapping negotiator and founder of The Black Swan Group, reveals the secrets of high-stakes negotiation. He explains how getting to 'no' can give people the feeling of control and defuse tension. Listeners learn about the critical role of tone in influencing decisions and the neuroscience behind trust. Chris shares tactical empathy techniques and emphasizes the importance of practicing negotiation skills in everyday life to master communication and reduce objections.
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Give People Permission To Say No
- 'No' preserves autonomy and reduces resistance in negotiations.
- Getting someone to feel safe saying no often opens the path to a genuine agreement.
FBI Negotiator Saved Her Job With One Question
- A hostage negotiator asked her boss a no-framed question and he immediately relaxed and said 'no.'
- She followed with a deferential question and kept her position instead of getting fired.
Switch Scripts: Start With 'No' Questions
- Try replacing 'yes'-oriented openers with 'no'-framed questions to reduce pressure.
- Measure results: a tested 'no' script raised a team's close rate from 12% to 60% in one example.
