This is a comprehensive summary of “Never Split the Difference” by Chris Voss and Tahl Raz. The book explores negotiating as if your life depended on it.

what’s in it for me? become a master negotiator.#

Introduction

have you ever felt like you came out on the losing side of a discussion, whether it was at home or in the workplace?

have you ever felt that you didn't know how to get what you wanted out of a negotiation?

if so, you're in the right place.

this chapter highlights how negotiation comes up in your everyday life.

it walks you through several techniques that'll arm you with the confidence and skills to make the most out of your negotiations and keep your losses to a minimum.

it won't teach you problem solving.

conflict is, to some extent, inevitable.

but it will give you the tools to get the results you want, drawing on the expertise of chris voss, a former lead fbi negotiation expert.

let's start by laying some common ground.

negotiation is a part of life – and there’s more to it than rationality and intellect.#

negotiation is not just something reserved for lawyers, corporate boardrooms, and the fbi.

it's a part of everyday life.

it happens at work and with friends, your partner, and even your kids who beg to stay up past their bedtime or have one last try at a video game level.

every time there are two or more people who want different outcomes from the same situation, negotiation comes into play.

so, what makes for a successful negotiator?

well, accepting that your life is filled with and fueled by negotiation is the first step.

there are lots of ways to negotiate, but the most effective techniques incorporate human nature.

connecting with others in a psychologically conscious way will help you understand your own mind as well as your peers' motives, which will give you a significant advantage.

let's see how.

for years, negotiation theory was based on the assumption that people acted rationally.

but more recent studies, like the one by amos tversky and daniel kahneman, revealed that the majority of people actually act irrationally and unpredictably.

that's because their behavior is governed by a series of psychological mechanisms called cognitive biases.

there are over 150 of them.

but the main point is this.

people act instinctively, emotionally, and irrationally.

even rational thoughts are often influenced by irrational ones.

and since rational thoughts take longer to formulate, people tend to default to irrationality.

just think about how you came up with that perfect comeback or answer to a discussion minutes or hours after it ended.

there's one key technique to negotiating effectively, and that's listening.

in order to gain knowledge of how a person thinks and feels, you have to listen actively, strategically, and empathetically.

let's look at some techniques to put this active listening into practice.

cheeseburger, no onions, sure.

apply active listening techniques to your everyday interactions to build trust.#

and for you?

have you ever experienced this situation where a waiter repeats your order after you say it?

this is called mirroring, and it's a technique you can use to develop trust with someone.

trust is a key element in negotiation.

it'll give you information about how the other person thinks and feels.

and by understanding their wants and needs, you'll be able to predict how they'll act.

this is where active listening comes in.

by actively listening to your counterpart, you'll achieve two things.

first, you'll stop listening to your own irrational biases.

and second, you'll make the person in front of you feel safe.

you'll start talking about their wants, which will help you discover their needs.

that's why mirroring is such a simple but enormously effective technique.

when you copy another person's behavior or words, you comfort them.

they get the feeling that you're similar to them, which generates trust and gets them to talk more.

so just as a waiter repeating your order at a restaurant conveys that they got it, when you repeat another person's words, they feel you get them.

furthermore, mirroring transmits the feeling that you want to better understand what the other person is saying.

this will make them reword their statement and hopefully disclose more information.

another useful technique is the deliberate use of your voice.

the voice is one of the key instruments used in negotiations, sometimes the only one.

and your tone can heavily influence the outcome.

there are two main voice tones to focus on here.

the first is positive and playful.

this should be your default voice.

try to speak while smiling and you'll notice that your voice has an easy-going tone.

that's what you're aiming for.

when you project a positive attitude, people are more likely to collaborate with you and find a solution to the problem.

the second voice is more positive and playful.

this is what you're aiming for.

the second voice is the late-night fm dj voice, which should be used selectively.

it includes a downward inflection and has a calm, slow pace.

if used correctly, it should create a feeling of authority without triggering defensiveness.

and it should communicate that you're in control of the situation, but generate a safe space for both parties.

decide which techniques to use and draft a negotiation roadmap according to the personality of your counterpart.

then, hone your rapport and keep the conversation flowing to build trust.

listening can shed light on someone's emotions, the main instruments for a successful negotiation.

emotion and empathy are tools you can use to create trust.#

a psychotherapist dives deep into their patient's emotions to understand their problems and get them to change their behavior.

in the same way, the more you can understand your counterpart's emotions, the more you can influence their actions to your advantage.

picture this situation.

you've waited for this day for months.

your boss has finally made some time to meet and discuss your salary.

you tell them about all the projects you've completed, all the extra time you've worked and how well you've performed, and how you deserve a 10% increase.

but all you get is a pat on the back while they say, you're doing okay, just hold tight, there's no budget for a raise right now.

you're devastated, angry and sad.

you've put in so much work, but it seems they don't value or even try to empathize with you.

a scene like this would probably make you less empathetic in turn, which would close the gap between you and your boss.

it would probably make you less empathetic in turn, which would close you off to the possibility of resolution.

empathy, or more precisely, tactical empathy, is key to keeping a negotiation open and forward moving.

empathy entails trying to understand what another person is feeling.

it's putting yourself in their shoes.

tactical empathy is all this and more.

it involves trying to hear what's behind those feelings so you can increase your influence on them.

it's emotional intelligence combined with strategic thinking.

the technique associated with tactical empathy is called labeling.

it consists of recognizing and verbalizing your counterpart's emotions.

in this way, you validate and acknowledge them.

you act as if you feel the emotions yourself, which again leads to trust.

it may sound easy, but detecting emotions is something that needs to be learned.

the first step is to become aware of body language and voice inflections.

when talking about a certain subject, the tiniest clench of the lips or movement of the hands can say a lot about a person's feelings toward it.

to formulate labels, take yourself out of the equation.

start your sentences with, it sounds like or it looks like.

by taking out the i, you demonstrate a selfless, more empathetic interest.

and after uttering a label, be quiet so that your counterpart has space to expand on it.

a label is not a question.

it's a statement, which makes the spectrum of answers quite wide.

labeling works because it addresses underlying emotions rather than superficial ones.

and it does so in a way that can diffuse any negative feelings.

so let's go back to the salary discussion example.

instead of insisting on your achievements and long hours, maybe you answer something like, oh, it sounds like you're under pressure from upper management.

in turn, they recount some internal management issues and their feelings toward them.

you've gained their trust, which is why they now say, i know you've been working hard and i truly appreciate it.

let me see how i can move some numbers and get you an incentive.

through this approach, you show your boss that you understand their position, which makes them more open to understanding yours.

ultimately, empathy is a human instinct.

it'll allow you to create more meaningful connections and have healthy relationships while serving as a tool to help you get what you want.

after all, everybody wants to be understood.

so far, it's all been positive thoughts and feelings.

just say no!#

you should have a pretty solid toolkit of techniques to generate trust in your counterpart, which will help you gather information about their wants and needs and direct the negotiation to where you want it to go.

now let's get into the negative side.

we'll start by talking about a tiny word we all fear.

no.

this negative word can be the end of so many ideas, a buzzkill, a fun stopper.

but for a negotiator, it can be a fundamental weapon when used right.

when used right.

essentially, saying no allows you to clarify what you want and don't want.

it gives you control, kicks off the negotiation, and hands you the lead.

when you say no, you temporarily protect yourself by providing space to consider options in a relaxed way.

no buys you time, and time gives you opportunities to persuade your counterpart into accepting your position.

but your counterpart also has the right to say no.

and that's a good thing.

by letting them conserve their autonomy, you give them the illusion of control.

so, for instance, if your boss denies you your salary raise, you could force a no by asking him, are you dissatisfied with my work?

or have i been underperforming?

by doing this, you give him the decision-making power, but nudge him into a corner where there isn't much else he can say.

the next time you find yourself in a negotiation situation, keep this in mind.

getting a no can be advantageous, so push for it.

find a way, a question, that will generate a no, and when you get it, embrace it.

the word no can be hard to implement because it's sometimes interpreted as being mean.

no creates friction and conflict, yeah, but it also allows people to feel safe and in control.

of course, there are many different, more subtle ways to express a negative answer, like asking, how?

through disagreement, people's real desires are expressed.

false politeness crumbles to reveal what everyone really wants.

by expressing and seeking negativity, you can uncover your counterpart's thoughts and feelings and get closer to your ultimate goal.

a real, committed yes.

maybe you've been taught that the best outcome for a conflict is one where both parties meet halfway, or split the difference.

don’t compromise, don’t give in, and never, ever split the difference.#

but this can lead to dissatisfaction for everyone involved.

meeting halfway also exposes you to the possibility of being pushed into a corner.

that's why we're going to explore ways to avoid compromise and instead create leverage in your favor.

first up, time.

time is an immensely powerful tool that can cause tranquility or anxiety.

in negotiations, you can use time to create pressure.

by establishing deadlines, you can force your counterpart to make rushed decisions because they're afraid of losing something in the future.

at the same time, most deadlines are flexible.

knowing this, you can confidently use time to your advantage.

let's come back to the salary raise discussion.

when your boss asks you to give them some time, set a date.

tell yourself that if your raise request isn't met by then, you'll start looking for a new job where you feel more appreciated.

the second tool is fairness.

we often think we make decisions based on rational thinking.

experience shows that logic is present in describing how we reach these decisions, but the actual moment of decision-making is dictated by emotion.

fairness is linked to logic and respect.

if, say, the answer to your salary raise request is a counteroffer, you'll likely feel that you're being played and deserve better.

the word fair can have a huge influence on your negotiation counterpart.

for example, you could tell your boss you just want what's fair.

it's a defensive accusation that can induce feelings of discomfort toward their own actions, a strong statement that comes in handy.

another, gentler way of using the word fair is to drop it early in the negotiation.

when you say you want to be fair, you let the other person know you're taking them into account from the beginning, which boosts our old friend trust.

people will always act emotionally and irrationally.

if you can learn to work with their emotions and perception of reality, you'll be one step closer to getting what you want.

black swans were once thought to be mythical creatures, until they were discovered by europeans in an expedition during the 17th century.

find the black swan, and use it to your favor.#

as a metaphor, a black swan represents the discovery of something unforeseen, surprising, presumed to be impossible.

in a negotiation context, a black swan represents the appearance of an unpredictable piece of information.

being able to identify and use black swans to your favor is a critical skill that allow you to generate breakthroughs in your negotiations.

so let's discover how.

in most negotiations, there's some information about your counterpart that you know for sure, like their name or offer.

then there are things that you know exist or are probable, like the possibility of your counterpart leaving the negotiation altogether.

finally, there are things you don't know you don't know, unimaginable information that would completely twist the outcome.

these are the black swans, or unknown unknowns.

it's impossible to totally conjure the unimaginable, so the best you can do is stay flexible and never overvalue your experience or your knowledge.

there are also a couple techniques you can use to make black swans visible.

for starters, ask lots of questions, and be attentive to the nonverbal cues they may trigger.

be open to receiving information beyond what you expected, and then ask yourself why the other person is communicating this right now.

uncovering black swans is easiest when you're negotiating in person.

there's no way to get important, deep information through email.

virtual, written communication gives people the time to reason and consciously avoid revealing too much.

it also conceals voice tones and body language.

you also need to be hyper-aware, especially outside formal meeting environments, where people are more likely to let their guard down.

and try employing tools like mirroring and labeling to unearth useful information.

so, say you've determined a black swan.

now what?

a piece of information isn't worth much if you don't know how to use it.

discovering a black swan gives you one essential thing.

leverage.

if you possess something your counterpart wants, you already have positive leverage, the ability to make their desire come true.

so, by learning what they truly want, you can ask for what you want in return.

negative leverage, on the other hand, is closer to a threat.

it draws on a basic cognitive bias called, the negative bias.

it draws on a basic cognitive bias called, loss aversion.

negative leverage entails making the other person know you have the ability to make them lose something if they don't accept your offer.

so, learn what's important to your counterpart.

maybe it's their reputation or status within a community.

and use this to your advantage.

negative leverage is dangerous and should be used with caution.

issuing threats can result in very toxic negotiations, which can potentially ruin a good relationship.

instead, try combining labeling with negative leverage.

for example, say, it seems that you value the reputation you've built.

finally, normative leverage is using the other person's set of rules and moral principles to your advantage.

if you have evidence that demonstrates discrepancies between a person's words and actions, you have normative leverage.

to understand their ideas, you just need to ask questions and be attentive to their answers.

remember, perception is key.

keep your senses alert and search for anything that could give you unexpected information about your counterpart.

in this way, you'll be able to get ahead in any negotiation.

you've just listened to our chapter to never split the difference by chris voss and tal raz.

final summary#

Conclusion

the key message in this chapter is this.

you can constructively negotiate your way through life by practicing psychological awareness and employing simple techniques like active listening and saying no.

remember, people just want to feel like they're understood and are able to trust you.

negotiations are all unique.

it's important to hone your skills and have them at hand so you're prepared for anything.

and when you find a black swan, take it and use it wisely.

thanks so much for listening, and if you can, please leave us a rating.

you can find the rate it button on your screen right now.

we always appreciate your feedback.

see you in the next chapter.

bye!

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