Chris Voss: The FBI’s #1 Negotiator on Winning Without Saying a Word
The High Performance Podcast
High Performance
4.8 • 4.7K Ratings
🗓️ 6 June 2025
⏱️ 62 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In this episode, we revisit a powerful conversation with Chris Voss, former FBI lead hostage negotiator and bestselling author of Never Split the Difference.
In this insightful discussion with Jake and Damian, Chris shares his unique approach to communication, showing how the skills he used in life-or-death negotiations can transform the way we handle everyday conversations. From business meetings to family dynamics, Chris explains why listening more and speaking less can lead to better outcomes in every area of life.
Listen in as Chris delivers practical, transformative strategies to help you navigate pressure, connect with others, and negotiate like your life depends on it.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Don't forget next week's episodes are available early, exclusively on the high performance app. |
| 0:04.5 | Out now, England International and Everton striker, Dominic Calvert Lewin. |
| 0:09.5 | So if you're assertive, your big problem is you're going first, you know, you're hitting them hard, |
| 0:14.1 | you're driving deals away from the table, you're not finding out the better deal that could have been there. |
| 0:18.4 | Stop giving advice and just let people just be a sounding board. |
| 0:23.5 | Don't give advice at all. |
| 0:25.3 | Stop. |
| 0:26.3 | I know you're scared and I know you're worried about coming out |
| 0:29.5 | and I know you're worried about getting hurt when you're coming out. |
| 0:32.1 | Here's what it's going to look like when you come out so that you don't get hurt. |
| 0:37.5 | That is the voice of former FBI hostage negotiator Chris Voss, and this is high performance, |
| 0:42.8 | the podcast that turns the lived experiences of the planet's highest performers into your |
| 0:47.5 | life lessons. |
| 0:48.8 | So imagine this. |
| 0:50.5 | You're trying to close a deal. |
| 0:52.0 | You've prepped your pitch. |
| 0:53.0 | You're ready to impress. |
| 0:53.8 | And Chris Voss, |
| 0:55.3 | the lead hostage negotiated with the FBI, says to you, don't speak first. Instead, |
| 1:01.7 | say one thing. Sounds like you've got something in mind. That's stopped me in my tracks, |
| 1:07.1 | Jake, because what he's really saying is, slow down, listen and create space. This episode |
| 1:14.9 | isn't about high-stakes FBI standoffs. It's about how we can all learn to deal better with people, |
... |
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