The Property Couch High-Stakes Negotiation Tips from the FBI | Throwback Tuesdays
May 12, 2026
Chris Voss, former FBI hostage negotiator turned negotiation expert. He discusses why silence fuels uncertainty and anxiety. He explains how regular check-ins build trust and how describing the landscape, not the watch, reduces fear. He recounts high-stakes stories and shows why adaptable plans and labeling emotions improve cooperation.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Regular Updates Reduce Uncertainty
- Call people regularly and tell them what's going on.
- Even call and say nothing is new, because predictable contact reduces anxiety and builds trust.
Manila Kidnapping Prompted Daily Check Ins
- In Manila Voss's team wasn't communicating well and a State Department colleague Ted criticized them.
- Ted told families he'd call every day and a half, prompting Voss to adopt the same predictable-contact approach.
Certainty Beats Inconsistent Outcomes
- People prefer consistent bad outcomes over unpredictable outcomes because uncertainty is more stressful.
- Voss cites a lab example about predictable electric shocks to show certainty is psychologically easier to bear.