Harvard’s William Ury: The Hidden Power of Going to the Balcony

Negotiate Anything

American Negotiation Institute

Business, Education, Self-improvement

4.7 • 748 Ratings

🗓️ 16 May 2025

⏱️ 68 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In high-stakes conflict, the greatest power is knowing when to pause. In this episode, Kwame Christian sits down with William Ury, Harvard negotiation master, co-founder of the Harvard Program on Negotiation, and co-author of the global bestseller "Getting to Yes." But beyond the books and accolades, Ury reveals his most profound secret — "Going to the Balcony." William Ury shares the gripping story of how this simple yet transformative technique helped him navigate high-stakes conflicts, including an explosive crisis in Venezuela that nearly spiraled into civil war. Ury explains how stepping back — both mentally and emotionally — is the ultimate power move, whether you're negotiating a billion-dollar deal, resolving a family dispute, or defusing an international crisis. Listeners will discover: The surprising power of silence and how it can change any negotiation. How to use "Going to the Balcony" to maintain control in the most intense situations. Why mastering yourself is the key to mastering any conflict. Real-world stories where Ury’s method transformed impossible negotiations. If you’ve ever struggled to keep your cool in tough conversations, this episode is your blueprint for turning chaos into clarity. Listen in and learn the technique that has saved lives, brokered peace, and transformed the way the world negotiates. www.williamury.com Buy the Book: POSSIBLE- How We Survive (and Thrive) in an Age of Conflict By William Ury 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!

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, I'm Kwame Christian and you are about to step into the world of Negotiate Anything,
0:06.2	the number one negotiation podcast in the world where we teach you how to make difficult conversations easier while getting more of what you want in the process.
0:14.7	Each episode is packed with practical tips and strategies from the experts.
0:19.5	We delve into negotiation, conflict resolution,
0:22.7	and leadership skills that are crucial in both business and in life. Whether you're closing a deal,
0:28.3	managing a team, or navigating personal relationships, negotiate anything provides you with the tools
0:33.9	you need to succeed. Our conversations are real, relatable, and most importantly, rooted
0:39.8	in practicality. So if you're ready to transform your conversations and elevate your negotiation skills,
0:46.2	join me on Negotiate Anything. Subscribe and listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you love to
0:52.7	listen. Let's make every conversation a winning negotiation.
1:00.4	William, thanks for joining us today. It's a huge pleasure for me. It is our honor,
1:06.5	my friend, to have you here. So how about you get started by telling us a little bit about yourself
1:10.8	and what
1:11.1	you do? Well, I'm a long-term student of negotiation. I started off as an anthropologist,
1:21.2	you know, studying human beings in the way in which we deal with our differences in the context
1:26.0	of our societies and cultures.
1:28.3	And I wanted to get my hands dirty, so I jumped into the field of negotiation because I felt,
1:34.3	wow, there's got to be a better way for us to handle our differences than getting into
1:39.9	these vicious disputes.
1:41.4	Or in my case, I grew up under the shadow of the atomic bomb, you know,
1:45.4	blowing the whole world to smithereens. It's got to be more creative, more constructive,
1:49.5	more compassionate ways to deal with differences. And so I spent my whole life looking for those
	...

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