Kwame Christian, a leading authority in negotiation and conflict resolution, discusses his evolution from law to thought leader. He emphasizes the value of compassionate curiosity in conflict resolution and shares strategies for successful negotiations. Kwame highlights the importance of preparation, especially for freelancers, and the role of blind hiring in combating bias. He also reveals exciting future projects at the American Negotiation Institute, including a reality TV show on conflict mediation, showcasing his strategic vision for personal and professional growth.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Kwame's Path to Negotiation
Kwame Christian initially aimed for clinical psychology, then politics, driven by a desire to help people.
He pursued law and public policy, but realized politics wasn't aligned with his values.
insights INSIGHT
Chess Master, Not Chess Piece
Kwame Christian uses the analogy of a chessboard: powerful pieces are still manipulated by those off the board.
True power lies in being the chess master, not a piece, allowing control and alignment with one's values.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Discovering Negotiation
Kwame discovered negotiation in law school, finding it a practical application of psychology.
After winning negotiation competitions, he realized it was a skill he could develop and share.
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In this highly acclaimed book, Dr. Robert B. Cialdini explains the psychology behind why people say yes and how to apply these insights ethically. The book outlines six universal principles of influence: Reciprocation, Commitment and Consistency, Social Proof, Liking, Authority, and Scarcity. The new and expanded edition includes a seventh principle, Unity, along with new research, insights, and examples. Cialdini uses memorable stories and relatable examples to make the subject accessible and easy to understand, helping readers become more skilled persuaders and defend themselves against unethical influence attempts.
Cat's cradle
Kurt Vonnegut
Mindset
The New Psychology of Success
Carol S. Dweck
In this book, Carol S. Dweck introduces the concept of two mindsets: the fixed mindset and the growth mindset. People with a fixed mindset believe their abilities are static, while those with a growth mindset believe their abilities can be developed through effort and learning. Dweck shows how these mindsets influence success in school, work, sports, and personal relationships. She also discusses how to adopt a deeper, truer growth mindset, and how this can transform individual and organizational cultures. The book emphasizes the importance of perseverance, learning from failures, and embracing challenges as key components of the growth mindset[1][2][5].
Finding Confidence in Conflict
How to Negotiate Anything and Live Your Best Life!
Kwame Christian
The 80/20 Principle
Richard Koch
The 80/20 Principle by Richard Koch introduces a powerful paradigm that suggests 80% of our outcomes result from just 20% of our efforts. The book explains how this principle, also known as the Pareto Principle, can be applied in various aspects of life and business to increase effectiveness and efficiency. Koch provides practical examples and strategies for identifying and focusing on the most impactful 20% of efforts to achieve significant results with minimal time and resources. The book emphasizes the importance of concentrating on high-impact activities and eliminating or outsourcing less important tasks to enhance productivity and happiness[2][3][5].
Kwame Christian is one of the foremost experts in the field of negotiation and conflict resolution. He’s the Director of the American Negotiation Institute, the host of the Negotiate Anything podcast, and the author of Finding Confidence in Conflict: How to Negotiate Anything and Live Your Best Life. In this episode we talk about Kwame’s brief look into politics, how to lead negotiations, thinking long term, taking risks, how he manages his time, and why Strategy has been at the heart of all of his decisions.
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