How to Get What You Want Every Time: 3 Steps to Negotiate Anything With Anyone

556 snips

May 22, 2025

Kwame Christian, CEO of the American Negotiation Institute and host of the Negotiate Anything podcast, joins for an enlightening discussion on negotiation. He emphasizes that the key to getting what you want lies in having difficult conversations. Listeners learn his three-step "Compassionate Curiosity" framework to handle conflicts effectively. Kwame shares strategies to manage fear, navigate emotional dynamics, and prioritize self-respect over being liked, empowering individuals to advocate for themselves in all areas of life.

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INSIGHT

Internal Negotiation Is Key

The most difficult conversation is the one with yourself, overcoming fear and self-doubt.
Internal negotiation builds confidence to stand up for oneself in difficult conversations.

ANECDOTE

Kwame's People Pleaser Story

Kwame was a people pleaser striving for acceptance after childhood rejection.
He compromised himself to be liked, later learning confidence through negotiation skills.

INSIGHT

Respect Yourself Over Avoiding Conflict

Fear of conflict often causes avoiding conversations, which leads to self-disrespect.
Respecting yourself means addressing difficult topics even if others react emotionally.

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Right now, there’s something you want.

Maybe you need help at home, more support from your partner, or it’s time to set a boundary at work.

But you’re avoiding the conversation. Why? Because it feels hard. You don’t want conflict, you don’t want to upset anyone, and you just don’t know how to bring it up.

That ends today.

The greatest things in life are on the other side of hard conversations.

And in this episode, you will learn the 3 simple steps to have any difficult conversation and get exactly what you want.

Mel sits down with world renowned negotiation expert Kwame Christian, CEO of the American Negotiation Institute, to break down exactly how to approach the conversations you’ve been avoiding.

Whether you want to negotiate a raise, ask your partner to step up, or finally tell your friend what’s bothering you, this episode is your crash course in how to advocate for yourself.

Inside this episode, you’ll learn:

-Why avoiding hard conversations is damaging your relationships (and your self-respect)

-How to handle someone’s emotional reaction without losing your cool

-The 3-step “Compassionate Curiosity” framework to navigate ANY conflict

-Why it’s more important to be respected than liked (and how to make that shift)

-How to negotiate at home, at work, and even with your landlord

-How to stand up for yourself without starting a fight

If you’ve been staying silent, stewing in resentment, or dreading confrontation, this episode will give you the confidence and skills to speak up and change your life.

You deserve respect. This is your roadmap to get it.

For more resources, click here for the podcast episode page.

If you liked this episode, you’ll love listening to this one next: The Most Important Career Advice You’ll Ever Hear With Harvard Business School’s #1 Professor

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