Is Your BATNA a Prison? Why Traditional Negotiation Rules Are Trapping You in Mediocre Deals

Request A Customized Workshop For Your Company⁠: https://www.americannegotiationinstitute.com/services/workshops/ Looking to take your negotiation skills to the next level? Join host Kwame Christian and guest David Johnson, an esteemed legal professional and design thinking expert, as they delve into the world of design thinking applied to negotiations. Gain invaluable insights into this innovative approach and learn how to leverage design thinking principles for success in your own negotiations. Tune in for actionable strategies and a fresh perspective on achieving better results. David Johnson Bio: David Johnson is a respected legal practitioner with extensive courtroom experience and a passion for teaching and research. He teaches at Stanford Law School and the Hasso Plattner School of Design, specializing in the intersection of law and design. With a background in both law and technology, David brings a unique perspective to negotiations, applying design thinking principles to enhance problem-solving and drive impactful outcomes. His expertise and dedication to improving social activism make him a sought-after speaker and author. Visit his personal website for more information on his groundbreaking work. ⁠Negotiation By Design Course ⁠ https://dschool.stanford.edu/classes/negotiation-by-design ⁠Follow Dave on LinkedIn⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/djohnsonllc/ ⁠Follow Kwame Christian on LinkedIn⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kwamechristian/ ⁠The Ultimate Negotiation Guide⁠: https://www.americannegotiationinstitute.com/guides/ultimate-negotiation-guide/ ⁠Click here to buy your copy of How To Have Difficult Conversations About Race!⁠: https://www.amazon.com/Have-Difficult-Conversations-About-Race/dp/1637741308/ref=pd_%5B%E2%80%A6%5Df0bc9774-7975-448b-bde1-094cab455adb&pd_rd_i=1637741308&psc=1 ⁠Click here to buy your copy of Finding Confidence in Conflict: How to Negotiate Anything and Live Your Best Life!⁠: https://www.amazon.com/Finding-Confidence-Conflict-Negotiate-Anything/dp/0578413736/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2PSW69L6ABTK&keywords=finding+confidence+in+conflict&qid=1667317257&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIwLjQyIiwicXNhIjoiMC4xNCIsInFzcCI6IjAuMjMifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=finding+confidence+in+conflic%2Caps%2C69&sr=8-1

Request A Customized Workshop For Your Company⁠: https://www.americannegotiationinstitute.com/services/workshops/} In this episode, Jennifer Walton, Chief Brand Officer at Sky Nile Consulting, discusses how to change the marketing field by creating a strategy focused on diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism. ⁠Sky Nile Consulting ⁠ https://www.skynileconsulting.com/ ⁠Follow Kwame Christian on LinkedIn⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kwamechristian/ ⁠The Ultimate Negotiation Guide⁠: https://www.americannegotiationinstitute.com/guides/ultimate-negotiation-guide/ ⁠Click here to buy your copy of How To Have Difficult Conversations About Race!⁠: https://www.amazon.com/Have-Difficult-Conversations-About-Race/dp/1637741308/ref=pd_%5B%E2%80%A6%5Df0bc9774-7975-448b-bde1-094cab455adb&pd_rd_i=1637741308&psc=1 ⁠Click here to buy your copy of Finding Confidence in Conflict: How to Negotiate Anything and Live Your Best Life!⁠: https://www.amazon.com/Finding-Confidence-Conflict-Negotiate-Anything/dp/0578413736/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2PSW69L6ABTK&keywords=finding+confidence+in+conflict&qid=1667317257&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIwLjQyIiwicXNhIjoiMC4xNCIsInFzcCI6IjAuMjMifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=finding+confidence+in+conflic%2Caps%2C69&sr=8-1

Why Most People Lose Big Without Noticing In this episode, Jeremy Delk reveals how his journey from a small town in Kentucky to Wall Street was shaped by the toughest negotiations of all — the ones with himself. Jeremy’s raw stories of losing millions, battling self-doubt, and building a multimillion-dollar venture capital firm expose the brutal truth most people miss: Success isn’t just about strategy — it’s about facing your own fears, mastering your mindset, and daring to take bold risks. Listen now to discover how to stop sabotaging yourself and start negotiating like your life depends on it. Connect with Jeremy Delk ⁠⁠Jeremy's Instagram ⁠ Contact ANI ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Request A Customized Workshop For Your Company⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Kwame Christian on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠negotiateanything.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to buy your copy of Finding Confidence in Conflict: How to Negotiate Anything and Live Your Best Life!⁠

People don’t trust who you are—they trust what they feel around you. In this powerful episode, Kwame Christian sits down with Shawn Anthony—entrepreneur, talent manager, and host of School’s Over… Now What?—to reveal the hidden mechanics behind trust, influence, and real connection. Discover how Shawn turned his ability to connect people into a six-figure side hustle and then a thriving media business. From the boardroom to the podcast studio, Shawn shares real stories and strategies about building credibility, creating opportunity through generosity, and using podcasting as a tool for persuasive leverage. Whether you're trying to grow your brand, gain buy-in, or lead with confidence, this episode shows you what actually makes people believe in you—and what quietly pushes them away. Connect with Anthony ⁠podpromax.com⁠ Contact ANI ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Request A Customized Workshop For Your Company⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Kwame Christian on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠negotiateanything.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to buy your copy of Finding Confidence in Conflict: How to Negotiate Anything and Live Your Best Life!

⁠Order NOW The Book: EVOLVE or Be Slaughtered: Negotiation For The 21st Century (Beyond Negotiating) by Derrick (The Van Gogh of Negotiation) Chevalier⁠ What if the rule we’ve all been taught — “never negotiate without a BATNA” — is the very thing limiting your success? In this mind-expanding conversation, Kwame Christian sits down with Derrick Chevalier, negotiation strategist and author of Evolve or Be Slaughtered, to expose the hidden danger of over-relying on your BATNA. Together, they explore why the best deals are rarely the ones you plan for, how to embrace creative discovery at the table, and what great negotiators actually do when things don’t go according to script. Whether you're a seasoned dealmaker or just learning the ropes, this episode will challenge everything you thought you knew about leverage, planning, and negotiation itself. Connect with Derrick ⁠https://h-c.com/⁠ ⁠Follow Derrick on LinkedIn⁠ Contact ANI ⁠Request A Customized Workshop For Your Company⁠ ⁠Follow Kwame Christian on LinkedIn⁠ ⁠The Ultimate Negotiation Guide⁠ ⁠Click here to buy your copy of How To Have Difficult Conversations About Race!⁠ ⁠Click here to buy your copy of Finding Confidence in Conflict: How to Negotiate Anything and Live Your Best Life!

One mistake. One moment of faking expertise. And it cost him a deal with Stevie Wonder. ⁠Order NOW The Book: EVOLVE or Be Slaughtered: Negotiation For The 21st Century (Beyond Negotiating) by Derrick (The Van Gogh of Negotiation) Chevalier⁠ In this unforgettable episode, Kwame Christian sits down with Derrick Chevalier — bestselling author of Evolve or Be Slaughtered and executive VP at Harrison Chevalier — to unpack the painful but powerful story that changed his life. From a failed negotiation with Stevie Wonder to creating a framework that helps leaders master their craft, Derrick shares how true confidence is built through competence — not performance. What you'll learn: Why pretending to know something can ruin your credibility — permanently. The ICSEAR framework: a step-by-step model for mastering any skill, including negotiation. How to move beyond balance and embrace harmony in high-pressure conversations. Why great negotiators must learn to flow like jazz — and how to get there Connect with Derrick ⁠https://h-c.com/⁠ ⁠Follow Derrick on LinkedIn⁠ If you’ve ever walked out of a meeting thinking, “I should’ve done better,” this episode will show you how to make sure that never happens again. Contact ANI ⁠Request A Customized Workshop For Your Company⁠ ⁠Follow Kwame Christian on LinkedIn⁠ ⁠The Ultimate Negotiation Guide⁠ ⁠Click here to buy your copy of How To Have Difficult Conversations About Race!⁠ ⁠Click here to buy your copy of Finding Confidence in Conflict: How to Negotiate Anything and Live Your Best Life!

If no one’s following you, it’s not your message — it’s your mindset. In this raw and revealing episode, change strategist Pam Marmon exposes the hidden forces that sabotage even the smartest visions: fear, control, passive resistance, and the lie we keep telling ourselves — that change is just “hard.” You’ll learn: Why employees resist you, not just the change The subtle ways leaders micromanage without realizing it How your need to “get it done” is killing your influence The three forms of resistance and how to defuse each one What real listening looks like — especially when no one is talking Why every failed transformation begins with the wrong belief Whether you're rolling out a new initiative, rebranding your business, or simply trying to get your team to care — this conversation is your crash course in becoming the kind of leader people want to follow. Because if your people feel like change is happening to them, not with them — you’ve already lost. Contact Pam ⁠⁠Buy the book "No One's Listening and It's Your Fault"⁠ ⁠⁠Marmon Consulting⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Pam's LinkedIn⁠ Contact ANI ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Request A Customized Workshop For Your Company⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Kwame Christian on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠negotiateanything.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to buy your copy of Finding Confidence in Conflict: How to Negotiate Anything and Live Your Best Life!

Buy the Book: ⁠For the Forces of Good: The Superpower of Everyday Negotiation⁠ In this episode of "Negotiate Anything," host Kwame Christian sits down with Lucia Kanter St. Amour to discuss the complex dynamics of negotiating with bullies. Lucia, an expert in negotiation and mediation, shares her personal experiences and insights on handling bullying, drawing from her new book "For the Forces of Good: The Superpower of Everyday Negotiation." Through engaging storytelling and practical advice, the episode explores Lucia's approach to negotiation, emphasizing the importance of building coalitions, understanding emotional dynamics, and strategizing effectively against high-conflict personalities. Using real-life examples, they delve into the societal roots of bullying, offering listeners valuable tools to manage these difficult conversations. What will be covered: Lucia's personal experiences with bullies and how they shaped her negotiation strategies. The societal roots of bullying and its prevalence in adult interactions. Practical negotiation techniques when facing bullies, including building rapport and understanding emotional dynamics. What listeners will learn: How to identify and respond to bullies using effective negotiation techniques. The importance of coalition-building and having allies when negotiating with difficult personalities. Strategies to maintain composure and protect oneself in high-pressure negotiation scenarios. SEO Friendly Keywords: negotiation techniques, negotiating with bullies, handling difficult conversations, mediation strategies, emotional dynamics in negotiation. Connect with Lucia Lucia's Podcast: ⁠Forces of Good: The Superpower of Everyday Negotiation⁠ Book Synopsis: ⁠FOR THE FORCES OF GOOD⁠ Buy the Book: ⁠For the Forces of Good: The Superpower of Everyday Negotiation⁠ Web: ⁠Pactum Factum⁠ Contact ANI ⁠Request A Customized Workshop For Your Company⁠ ⁠Follow Kwame Christian on LinkedIn⁠ ⁠The Ultimate Negotiation Guide⁠ ⁠Click here to buy your copy of How To Have Difficult Conversations About Race!⁠ ⁠Click here to buy your copy of Finding Confidence in Conflict: How to Negotiate Anything and Live Your Best Life!

Most conflict conversations fail before they even begin. Steve Beck shares his Good Conflict framework — a practical, human-centered approach that helps you prepare, structure, and recover from difficult conversations. Learn how to deal with competing desires, uncover hidden narratives, and build trust that lasts. Whether at home or at work, this episode will change how you approach conflict forever. Steve Beck is a seasoned expert in organizational leadership and conflict resolution. With over two decades of experience, Steve has honed his skills in resolving conflicts and building strong relationships across diverse settings. His unique approach, named "good conflict," emphasizes curiosity, humility, and prioritizing interests for successful negotiations. Explore more about Steve Beck's work and insights by visiting his website: ⁠https://cstevebeck.com/⁠. Contact ANI ⁠Request A Customized Workshop For Your Company⁠ ⁠Follow Kwame Christian on LinkedIn⁠ ⁠The Ultimate Negotiation Guide⁠ ⁠Click here to buy your copy of How To Have Difficult Conversations About Race!⁠ ⁠Click here to buy your copy of Finding Confidence in Conflict: How to Negotiate Anything and Live Your Best Life!

What if the most powerful negotiation tactic… was silence? In this masterclass episode, legendary negotiator William Ury, co-author of Getting to Yes and co-founder of Harvard’s Program on Negotiation, shares the unbelievable true story of how he helped prevent a civil war in Venezuela — not with force, but with silence, empathy, and preparation. You’ll hear how Ury kept calm while being yelled at by President Hugo Chávez… and how going to the “mental balcony” gave him the clarity to de-escalate the moment and shift the direction of an entire nation. 🎙 Hosted by Kwame Christian, founder of the American Negotiation Institute, this interview is packed with insight for anyone navigating high-stakes conversations, conflict resolution, or personal transformation. Why silence is the ultimate power move in conflict How to “go to the balcony” in heated conversations What most negotiators get wrong about preparation How empathy turns enemies into collaborators Why listening is more persuasive than talking The “Trust Menu” technique that works when dialogue breaks down ⁠www.williamury.com⁠ ⁠Buy the Book: POSSIBLE- How We Survive (and Thrive) in an Age of Conflict By William Ury