In this episode of The Business of Thinking, former police hostage negotiator Nigel Taberner joins Richard Reid to reveal how the high-stakes world of crisis negotiation translates into powerful leadership and influence. Taberner shares his journey from a bus-building factory to counter-terrorism and saving over 130 lives, emphasizing that listening is a professional superpower. Discover why "less is more" in any boardroom or domestic dispute and how managing your own ego and emotions is the key to mastering difficult conversations.
Key Takeaways
The core skill of negotiation is listening to understand and making others feel heard rather than just smooth talking.
Restoring rational thought requires balancing the emotional seesaw by addressing feelings before tackling substantive issues.
Effective influence is built on authenticity and aligning actions with an individual’s personal values and beliefs.
Episode Highlights
Nigel discusses his transition from Moss Side's "baptism by fire" to elite counter-terrorism and hostage roles.
The importance of "tell me" questions and fillers over direct questioning to keep others talking and sharing information.
Practicing the first 60 seconds of any interaction is a game-changer for establishing warmth and competence.
Nigel explains how to approach the "elephant in the room" using the phrase "I get the impression that...".
Timestamps
00:00 Introduction to the psychology of high performance
01:29 From Wigan factory worker to saving 130 lives
08:21 Listening as a negotiator’s secret superpower
11:28 Why most negotiators fail by not being authentic
21:31 Balancing the seesaw between emotion and rational thought
26:23 The power of "tell me" questions in business and life
34:28 Mastering the first 60 seconds of any conversation
🔗 Connect with Nigel Taberner
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/nigel-taberner
Showreel: youtube.com/watch?v=X_DpmrizY1s&feature=youtu.be
linkedin.com/in/nigel-taberner-b97b0a1a0/
⭐️ Connect and Subscribe
Thank you for joining us on The Business of Thinking podcast. If you enjoyed this conversation, please subscribe and leave a rating! It helps us bring more insightful content on the psychology of high performance. Find more about Richard Reid’s work at www.richard-reid.com.
Production Credit: Edited and produced by @the32collective_ / https://www.the32collective
