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The Conflict Resolution Strategies That Will Save Your Relationships
To get your point across AND save your relationships, implement this mechanism when you’re in a disagreement: “Before I disagree, let me make sure I...
How to Approach Difficult Conversations with Co-workers
Though I’ve retired from active duty, I’m still a reserve deputy in my local county. Recently, a new assistant chief came into the department and...
4 Ways to Get Everything You Want in a Contract Negotiation
Every negotiator wants the same thing: getting exactly what we want every time we sit down at the table.
The Most Underutilized Negotiation Skill
The first time I ever handled a hostage negotiation, the whole thing was over in five minutes. I thought that negotiation was easy and that I was a...
What Is The Black Swan Group's Negotiation 9™ (N9™)?
The Black Swan Group’s Negotiation 9™ (N9™) are the nine skills that make it easy to achieve Tactical Empathy™ (TE™) —the best way to accomplish...
Why Good Cop, Bad Cop in a Negotiation is a Terrible Idea
If you’ve ever seen practically any movie that involves police officers, you’re familiar with the good cop/bad cop negotiation strategy. During an...
Communication Skills: How to Deliver Bad News
In an ideal world, everything would be rosy, and you’d never have to deliver bad news to your direct reports. But there comes a time when every...
Communication Skills: How Leaders Can Regain Trust
Even though you’re a leader, you’re still a human being—which means that from time to time, you’re going to make mistakes. That’s just the way it is....
How Are Negotiation and Interpersonal Communication Related?
You might be the best negotiator in the world. But if you don’t know how to deal with people and treat them with respect, you won’t get the results...
3 Guaranteed Ways to Increase Your Communication Success
This blog was originally published on 11/23/2015 and updated on 9/10/2020. Everyone is always looking to increase their chances of success. It’s...
Communication Skills: Did You Know There Are 5 Levels of Listening?
This blog was originally published on 5/14/2018 and updated on 8/13/2020. Most people who think they are good listeners underperform—by as much as 60...
Communication Skills: How to Use a Cold Read and Accusation Audit
This blog was originally published on 4/17/2017 and updated on 8/6/2020. A few years ago, I was the only hostage negotiator in a room full of SWAT...