Negotiations Ninja Podcast

Everyone loves a good spy movie, right? The intrigue, the danger, the mystery…it's fascinating. In this special throwback episode of Negotiations Ninja, we revisit a special conversation with Jack Barsky, who was originally a sleeper agent for the KGB. After being exposed, Jack became an asset for United States intelligence. He shares what undercover life was  really  like in this episode. Don't m...

Tim Castle—a sales coach, professional development coach, and best-selling author—embraces an unusual approach in his negotiations. His H.U.M.A.N. approach to negotiations emphasizes hearing, unlocking, moving, aligning, and networking. Tim will break down some of these concepts to help transform the way you think about negotiations in this episode of Negotiations Ninja!  Outline of This Episode [...

According to Brian Ahearn, influence is a way of life . Embracing the principles of influence— reciprocity, commitment or consistency, consensus or social proof, authority, liking, and scarcity—allows you to look at life through a different lens. And each principle builds on the other. When you focus on getting to know and like the people around you, you'll learn what's meaningful to them. Accordi...

Multiparty and multi-stakeholder negotiations are complex. Community negotiation is even more so. The process is  mind-boggling.  And it's one that Nokukhanya (Nox) Ntuli navigates regularly. Nox is a South African lawyer, mediator, process facilitator, and the Head of Dispute Resolution at Compliance Advisor Ombudsman, part of the World Bank Group.  Her role is an accountability mechanism within...

In Dan Oblinger and Allan Tsang's book, " Negotiation Mythbusters: Rethinking Everything You Know About Building Strong Agreements ," they dissect 30 commonly held negotiation myths. In this episode of Negotiations Ninja, they cover a few, including a commonly held belief:  That trust is a necessity. They contend that trust is a luxury. And trust is a luxury that most negotiators don't have. What...

If we went back 15 years and looked up "Social Engineering," it was defined as something malicious and manipulative. But as Chris Hadnagy studied psychology, influence, persuasion, and human decision-making, he saw that social engineering wasn't always negative. So Chris came up with a new definition: Human hacking, i.e. social engineering, is "Any act that influences a person to take an action th...

How do you calculate the value of liquidated damages? What do you ask for? How do you know what something is worth? According to contract expert Jeanette Nyden , "If you don't have a good risk analysis or cost analysts on the customer side, then you use formulas." Jeanette shares what this could look like in this throwback episode of Negotiations Ninja!   

Did you know that the principles a hostage negotiator uses to negotiate with a hostage-taker can be applied to leadership? It seems far-fetched, I know. But Derek Gaunt takes the concept and drives it home in his book, " Ego, Authority, Failure: Using Emotional Intelligence Like a Hostage Negotiator to Succeed as a Leader. "  In this episode of Negotiations Ninja, we get into the specifics of the...

So much of the sales world has moved online because of the Covid pandemic. But even before that, virtual sales were becoming more prevalent. Now, it's more important than ever to develop virtual sales mastery. That's why we're returning to this poignant episode with Steve Brossman in this throwback episode of Negotiations Ninja. Tune in to hear him unpack the art and science of virtual sales! http...

Matthias Schranner specializes in especially difficult negotiations, those that you can't simply win with preparation and a good argument. Coming to an agreement in a difficult negotiation often requires wildly different strategies than a simple business negotiation. Matthias was a hostage negotiator in Germany for over 14 years before he started his own business focusing on difficult negotiations...

What is an indemnity clause? Why do companies have indemnity clauses? What do contract professionals need to be aware of? Jeanette Nyden has spent the last 18+ years teaching people how to negotiate the word of complex contract negotiations. She shares how you can navigate indemnity clauses in this throwback episode of Negotiations Ninja!    https://negotiations.ninja/podcast/understanding-indemni...

What do most sales books get wrong? What levers of influence are necessary to move people in your direction? What is the mindset shift required to move from novice to successful salesperson? These are all things that Douglas Cole covers in his newest book, "The Sales MBA," and we're lucky enough to discuss them in this episode of Negotiations Ninja.  Outline of This Episode [1:45] Learn more about...

What do you focus on when negotiating labor categories? People often leave money on the table because they prioritize convenience. But what they should really focus on is bringing in an industry insider that understands every component—including cost structure—so they can help you optimize costs.  Matt Smith and Rich Hamm take a deep dive into negotiating labor categories in this throwback episode...

What is it costing you to not listen? Over time, when you stop listening, it erodes your relationships. It might be at work, it might be at home, but it impacts every facet of your life.  That's why listening is at the heart of learning to resolve conflict. Conflict resolution isn't always about agreement—it's about alignment. You need to be able to respect each other's viewpoints and decisions. ...

Interrogations get a bad name but the truth is an interrogation conversation is about one thing: communication. How? You need to communicate effectively to compel someone to tell you the truth. So how do you master the interrogation conversation? Michael Reddington shares how you can get to the truth while building trust and rapport in this throwback episode of Negotiations Ninja!   

Why did Greg Nutter write "P3 Selling: The Essentials of B2B Sales Success?" What are the key concepts? How can they help B2B sellers be more successful? B2B sales are far different from B2C. So to be effective with B2B sales, you need to do things differently. Greg's three-step process, when done correctly, can help you improve your sales success. Learn all the specifics in this episode of Negoti...

Let's say you're navigating a tricky divorce. Tensions are high and there's a lot at stake. You don't want to make mistakes that could change the trajectory of your future.  Rebecca Zung is a divorce attorney that helps people prepare for navigating tricky circumstances just like this.  Rebecca shares a few things you should avoid in divorce negotiations: Giving away anything too early Assuming th...

Dr. Charlotte de Brabandt has been in procurement for 14 years and worked in five different industries on three different continents. During this time, the world has undergone massive changes—and so has the world of procurement.  The crises we've faced have led to a further reliance on technology to navigate supplier negotiations, but it's also led to a shift in relationships. Procurement needs to...

What three things are critical to successful negotiations? Richard Ham believes that you must do three things: Master the subject matter : You need all of the supporting details completely mastered before you enter a dispute or a negotiation. Prepare : If you've spent 30+ years in an industry, you still have to take the time to be prepared for every specific negotiation. Embrace  Solidarity : Soli...

What is authentic persuasion? How do salespeople employ authentic persuasion to make sales and consistently meet their quota? What kind of mindset shift is required? Jason Cutter is a mindset and scalability expert who focuses on helping sales teams be more effective. In this episode of Negotiations Ninja, he tackles the concept of authentic persuasion to help you move past barriers and help more...

What are the main differences between Eastern and Western approaches to negotiation? If you approach a negotiation with an Eastern counterpart taking a Western mindset, what do you need to know to succeed? According to Mala Subramaniam, you  have  to take your different cultures into consideration. Learn the keys to blending Eastern and Western negotiation styles in this special throwback episode...

What is the mindset shift that needs to happen for you to embrace self-advocacy? Why is it important to nail down the value you're providing  and  the future value of your contributions? How do you help them see your vision for future success? These are just a few of the questions Jamie Lee conquers in this episode of Negotiations Ninja. Jamie Lee is an executive coach for women who hate office po...

What do you need to do to drive value in negotiation? Stephen Kozicki has nailed down three questions you have to ask:  What are we asking them to do? What risks are we asking them to take? What is the value we will deliver in this negotiation? The value we deliver has to be tangible, measurable, and tradeable. How do you make sure you're hitting the mark? How do you avoid costly mistakes? Find ou...

What should mediation preparation look like? How do you select the best mediator for your case? How do you make the most of a mandatory negotiation should you ever find yourself in that position? Amy Mariani—who practiced law for 20 years before transitioning into mediation—answers these questions and so much more in this episode of Negotiations Ninja.  Outline of This Episode [1:43] Get to know A...

According to Mark Davis, "Culture at its very nature is pervasive in all negotiation and, in fact, it should be a framework through which you can overcome these obstacles and they rise to the surface." Cultural awareness is key to any negotiation, even if it isn't overtly across cultures. So how do you develop cultural awareness? How do you learn to adapt your perspective to take into account what...