Negotiate Anything Seemingly Positive Things That Make Bullies More Powerful
Mar 14, 2026
Lucia Kanter St. Amour, negotiator, mediator, and author of For the Forces of Good, shares how childhood bullying shaped her negotiation approach. She explores why bullies gain power, when you cannot negotiate alone, and tactics like coalition-building, managing emotional pressure, and planning BATNAs. Short, practical stories illuminate strategies for confronting high-conflict personalities.
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Ignore Bullying To Extinguish The Behavior
- Try ignoring undesirable bullying behaviors to extinguish them, like a behaviorist would recommend.
- Lucia gives an example from her podcast where Nina Greeley successfully used ignoring in a high conflict negotiation.
Refuse Immediate Concessions To Prevent Repeat Abuse
- Avoid giving in to demands because compliance reinforces continued bullying and offers no guarantee of future peace.
- Lucia stresses knowing your bottom line and BATNA so you can walk away rather than accept bad deals.
Appear Calm And Patient Under Pressure
- Appear calm and patient during bullying encounters; act composed even if you don't feel it inside.
- Lucia warns bullies provoke emotion; faking calmness prevents them from winning by emotional escalation.
