Ep.542 ~ 1 Hour with The FBI’s Lead Hostage Negotiator ~ Chris Voss

Typically, there are around 10,000 agents working in the FBI at any given period, but there is only one lead international kidnapping negotiator, and that is our guest today!

His name is Chris Voss and prior to 2008, Chris led kidnapping negotiations all around the world for the United States’ FBI. On top of that, Chris was the hostage negotiation representative for the National Security Council’s Hostage Working Group. During his government career, he also represented the U.S. at two international conferences sponsored by the G-8 as an expert in kidnapping. Prior to becoming the FBI’s lead kidnapping negotiator, Chris served as the lead Crisis Negotiator for the New York City Division of the FBI and, he has been a member of the city’s Joint Terrorist Task Force for 14 years.

After his 24 year tenure in the FBI Chris founded The Black Swan Group with his son Brandon helping corporations and businesses get the most optimal results at the negotiating table.

04:08 Who is Chris Voss?

06:27 When Did Chris Find His Passion In Negotiation?

07:51 How Chris Started To Volunteer In A Suicide Hotline

11:13 Most Intense International Negotiation Chris Encountered

14:39 How To Manage Sanity After Work

16:49 The Negotiating Concept of “Mirroring”

21:23 The Different Systems Of Thinking

26:35 What Is Tactical Empathy?

32:39 The Importance Of Getting A “No” Before a “Yes”

39:22 What is The Black Swan in Negotiations?

44:00 Question From Audience: Negotiating Cultural Differences With Ease

50:46 Question From Audience: What Something Chris Wished He Had Known Decades Ago