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Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss, framework 4 of 9

Bend their reality

Six moves with anchors, ranges and odd numbers.

Chris Voss's framework, from Never Split the Difference, pp. 95 to 116.

  1. Anchor emotions

    Accusation audit first.

  2. Let them go first

    Mostly.

  3. Range

    Low end is your real number.

  4. Nonmonetary terms

    Pivot.

  5. Odd numbers

    Precise figures.

  6. Gift

    Surprise reciprocity.

From chapter: CHAPTER 6 | BEND THEIR REALITY, pp. 95–116

Opening on a $150,000 Haitian kidnapping demand, Voss says never to compromise, because splitting the difference is wearing one black and one brown shoe. He reframes deadlines as mostly imaginary and shows that hiding your own deadline makes an impasse more likely. The Ultimatum Game proves people are emotional about fairness, so 'fair' is a powerful word with three uses, two of them manipulative. The rest of the chapter lists six ways to bend a counterpart's reality: emotional anchors, letting them go first, ranges, nonmonetary terms, odd numbers and a surprise gift, with a ransom paid at $4,751 and a salary raised to $134,500 as proof.

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