Negotiations Ninja Podcast

Mark Lowther was a SWAT Crisis/Hostage Negotiator and is currently an international instructor for negotiation. He spent time in Ukraine in 2022, teaching mediation, dispute resolution, and hostage negotiation techniques. He worked with mostly civilians, teaching them how to engage in dialogue to avoid escalating to disputes. In this throwback episode of Negotiations Ninja, Mark gave us a firsthand look at what was happening in the war zone. As the war between Russia and Ukraine still wages, we can’t forget about the lives that continue to be impacted.  

What have Alex Yakubovich and Stan Garber learned from founding and successfully exiting their own companies? Being customer-obsessed is the key to success. It’s the mindset they’re embracing in their newest venture, Levelpath. Alex and Stan share how being customer-obsessed has shaped their past successes and their current project in this episode of Negotiations Ninja.  Outline of This Episode [2:35] Learn more about Alex Yakubovich and Stan Garber [4:10] Why being customer-obsessed works for them [7:02] Don’t fake caring about your customers [12:22] Learn more about their latest venture: Levelpath [21:49] Their vision for the future of Levelpath [25:12] What should the future of procurement look like? Resources & People Mentioned Levelpath Connect with Alex Yakubovich and Stan Garber Connect with Alex on LinkedIn Connect with Stan on LinkedIn Connect With Mark Follow Negotiations Ninja on Twitter: @NegotiationPod Connect with Mark on LinkedIn Follow Negotiations Ninja on LinkedIn Connect on Insta

The Depp vs. Heard trial garnered media attention for months in 2022. Ultimately, Heard was found guilty of defamation and the jury awarded Depp $15 million in damages. Susan Ibitz knew that the jury would swing in favor of Depp. Just how did she know? Amber wasn’t likable, warm, or believable. She lied. It was written all over her body language. Susan shares what she looked for and how she knew Amber was lying in this fascinating throwback episode of Negotiations Ninja.

How do you prepare for SaaS renewal negotiations? How can strategic enterprise customers deploy and help increase their negotiation leverage? Adam Mansfield has the necessary knowledge to help you walk through the process and arm yourself with everything you need to know to succeed in million-dollar SaaS negotiations. He shares his expertise in this episode of Negotiations Ninja.  Outline of This Episode [1:46] Learn more about Adam Mansfield [3:41] How to prepare for a SaaS renewal negotiation [14:36] Arm your senior leadership with information [21:10] How to leverage new products to get a “deal” [26:04] How salespeople are typically compensated  [29:09] How to manage the sales side of the negotiation Connect with Adam Mansfield Connect on LinkedIn UpperEdge Connect With Mark Follow Negotiations Ninja on Twitter: @NegotiationPod Connect with Mark on LinkedIn Follow Negotiations Ninja on LinkedIn Connect on Instagram: @NegotiationPod Subscribe to Negotiations Ninja

Shaahin Cheyene, the founder and president of Accelerated Intelligence, is known for being an Amazon Guru. He’s spent the last two decades helping others leverage the platform to find success. But before he built his Amazon empire, he led a rag-to-riches story that you have to hear to believe. Hear his fascinating story in this throwback episode of Negotiations Ninja!   

What do you do when a buyer makes a request? It can be easy to quickly say, “Sure, I’ll do that,” and give them whatever they want. However, Hamish Knox has a far better strategy that will get everyone to what they want faster. In this episode of Negotiations Ninja, Hamish tackles all things buyer requests, including understanding why they’re making a request and how to hold them accountable.  Outline of This Episode [1:39] Learn more about Hamish Knox [2:20] What to do when a buyer makes a request [7:47] Understanding why a buyer makes a request  [12:14] How to hold buyers accountable [17:13] Does the “relationship” only exist in your head? [19:14] A good relationship is a profitable relationship [20:45] Handling culture shifts when people retire [22:58] How to approach virtual discussions Resources & People Mentioned Accountability the Sandler Way The Full Funnel Freedom Podcast Connect with Hamish Knox Sandler Training Connect on LinkedIn Connect With Mark Follow Negotiations Ninja on Twitter: @

How you perceive value will always be different than how a seller sees it. They’re emotionally attached to the companies they’ve built. But you have to be careful that you don’t get overly attached, either. The more attached you become to the outcome you desire, the less desirable the outcome. Joanna Shea shares how to balance IQ and EQ in this throwback episode of Negotiations Ninja.

The cost of workplace conflict in Northern Ireland (with a population of 1.9 million people) is almost 1 billion pounds per year. Those costs are astronomical.  That’s why Enda Young and Northern Ireland Mediation have created an immersive conflict resolution program to train mediators and negotiators. You learn your skills and repeatedly practice them in a simulation center.  Enda seeks to apply the work in the field of simulation to the field of mediation in a practical and impactful way. But he also encourages negotiators, mediators, and all leaders to focus on introspection. Because you can’t effectively negotiate, mediate, or lead others without intimately knowing your identity.  Do you know how you handle conflict? Do you come out on the other side of a negotiation without achieving your desired result? Is your identity too wrapped up in what you do? Enda dives headfirst into a discussion on the impact of identity on negotiation in this episode of Negotiations Ninja.  Outline of This Episode [1:43] Lea

What is the difference between bargaining and bartering? What mistakes do people make in the bartering process? Why does Brian Gunia view negotiation as bartering? In this throwback episode of Negotiations Ninja, Brian shares how bartering forces negotiators to think creatively to come up with solutions and ultimately land on agreements.  

Are salespeople doing prospecting all wrong? Are the days of cold-calling and emailing officially over? Is there a better way? Donald Kelly—also known as the “Sales Evangelist”—sure thinks so. He shares why leveraging LinkedIn in the prospecting process is the best route to take—and even shares how to do it—in this episode of Negotiations Ninja.  Outline of This Episode [1:58] Learn more about Sales Evangelist Donald Kelly [3:25] The prospecting process on LinkedIn [10:04] Breaking down Sales Navigator trigger points [15:02] It’s not the product, it’s the salesperson  Resources & People Mentioned Apollo.io Donald Kelly’s Platinum Rule of Sales Negotiations, Ep #399 Connect with Donald Kelly Sell It Like a Mango: A New Seller's Guide to Closing More Deals Connect With Mark Follow Negotiations Ninja on Twitter: @NegotiationPod Connect with Mark on LinkedIn Follow Negotiations Ninja on LinkedIn Connect on Instagram: @NegotiationPod Subscribe to Negotiations Ninja

Negotiations can become second nature through diligent practice and honing of your skills. But what are the necessary skills you need to focus on? According to Julia Ewert, learning to ask open-ended questions is a great place to start. What other negotiation skills do you need to perfect? How can building skills help you in tense negotiations? Julia shares how negotiations can become second nature in this throwback episode of Negotiations Ninja.

Why are people so easily misinformed or manipulated? In hindsight, it’s easy to question “How did that fool me?” But when you’re “in it” you don’t realize it. Why? Why are people taken in by things that are absurd? There are signs that we can learn to notice.  Chris wrote “Nobody’s Fool” to answer what it is about our minds and how they work that makes us vulnerable. They aren’t complicated things. There are “hooks” that deceivers and scammers exploit in our psychology.  So what are they? How can we become more aware? Chris shares how you can make sure you’re nobody’s fool in this episode of Negotiations Ninja.  Outline of This Episode [2:16] Learn more about Chris Chabris [2:34] Why are people so easily misinformed? [5:37] Why does the brain revert to truth bias? [8:16] How to become more aware of misinformation [11:38] Combating the “What you see is all there is” assumption [16:16] What information do manipulators seek? [20:44] Make sure you ask probing questions Resources & People Mentioned Nobody's

How do you differentiate yourself as a salesperson? Patrick Tinney believes taking risks might be the key to being an above average salesperson. Patrick shares the unusual way he built up his risk tolerance—and how it shaped his entire career—in this throwback episode of Negotiations Ninja. 

How can sales managers help their teams be better negotiators? How can you develop internal coaches who can help their team members improve their sales and negotiation skills? Steve Benson—the Founder and CEO of Badger Maps—shares how you can empower your team to sharpen each other’s skills in this episode of Negotiations Ninja.  Outline of This Episode [1:52] Learn more about Steve  [3:00] How can sales managers help their teams be better negotiators?  [7:13] How can you determine who’s a great teacher? [9:14] Mastering the onboarding and training process [12:30] The characteristics of a good coach [14:42] Navigating the price conversation  [18:41] Learn more about Badger Maps [20:29] Why Steve created Badger Maps [21:21] Badger Sales University  Resources & People Mentioned Badger Sales University  Outside Sales Talk podcast Connect with Steve Benson Badger Maps Connect on LinkedIn Follow on Twitter Connect With Mark Follow Negotiations Ninja on Twitter: @NegotiationPod Connect with Mark on Linke

According to Susan Walsh, “The quality of your data determines the quality of your negotiation.” Procurement professionals need a classification system in place to ensure that they’re not relying on dirty data. Your data needs to be consistent, organized, accurate, and trustworthy (COAT). If it isn’t, you’re likely costing your business money. Susan Walsh—i.e. The Classification Guru—shares the biggest problem with procurement data (and what to do about it) in this throwback episode of Negotiations Ninja. 

Self-confidence and self-control in conflict are difficult things to master. And you can’t resolve conflict with others until you learn to resolve conflict within yourself. This takes an incredible amount of self-awareness. In this episode of Negotiations Ninja, Ryan shares how you can learn to resolve conflict the right way by starting with knowing yourself.  Outline of This Episode [2:01] Learn more about Ryan Dunlap [4:01] Resolving conflict within yourself [7:40] Why scripts don’t get the desired outcome [10:33] How to become more self-aware [14:32] The best alternative to an ideal outcome [19:17] How to learn better self-control Resources & People Mentioned Insight by Tasha Eurich Connect with Ryan Dunlap Conflictish™ Ryan’s training and workshops Friend on Instagram Connect on LinkedIn Connect With Mark Follow Negotiations Ninja on Twitter: @NegotiationPod Connect with Mark on LinkedIn Follow Negotiations Ninja on LinkedIn Connect on Instagram: @NegotiationPod Subscribe to Negotiations Ninja

In 2020, we had a conversation about how AI could positively impact negotiations. Now, three years later, artificial intelligence is front and center, seemingly in every corner of society. Martin Rand’s thoughts on the use of artificial intelligence in negotiation is more relevant than ever. Learn more about how you and your business can leverage AI in this throwback episode of Negotiations Ninja.

Paul Nadeau is a former hostage negotiator, international peacekeeper, and interrogator. During this time, he learned a lot about how the human mind works. He’s taken his decades of experience and applied it to a negotiation framework that every negotiator can learn to implement in their work and lives.  Outline of This Episode [1:56] Learn more about J. Paul Nadeau [3:19] Why won’t people just ask? [6:32] Dissecting the inner conflict that exists [10:05] The PIER negotiation process [13:56] We don’t sell to people, we sell for people [27:32] Negotiations are about connections Resources & People Mentioned Dammit, Just Ask! Connect with J. Paul Nadeau J. Paul Nadeau’s Website Connect on LinkedIn Connect With Mark Follow Negotiations Ninja on Twitter: @NegotiationPod Connect with Mark on LinkedIn Follow Negotiations Ninja on LinkedIn Connect on Instagram: @NegotiationPod Subscribe to Negotiations Ninja

Information asymmetry occurs when one side has more information than the other. In any negotiation, each side has more knowledge than the other in specific areas. It’s your job to ask the right questions to fill in the gaps and level the playing field. Simon Rycraft shares what else you need to do to overcome information asymmetry in this throwback episode of Negotiations Ninja!

How do you build rapport with clients? How do you be someone who’s a pleasure to do business with? How do you employ active listening? How do you get, stay, and act in front of clients? Glenn Poulos covered these concepts in his latest book, “Never Sit in the Lobby,” and we discuss them in this episode of Negotiations Ninja.  Outline of This Episode [1:48] Learn more about Glenn Poulos [3:11] How to get, stay, and act in front of clients… [5:31] Never sit in the lobby [13:26] How to build rapport with clients Connect with Glenn Poulos Glenn’s Book: Never Sit in the Lobby Glenn’s Website Connect on LinkedIn Follow on Twitter Connect With Mark Follow Negotiations Ninja on Twitter: @NegotiationPod Connect with Mark on LinkedIn Follow Negotiations Ninja on LinkedIn Connect on Instagram: @NegotiationPod Subscribe to Negotiations Ninja