Nicole Madden’s Reviews > Never Split the Difference: Negotiating as if Your Life Depended on It > Status Update

This really is an insight into human psychology. I’m learning so much from each chapter and picking up a lot of useful tips for day to day interactions. It really is all about making someone feel understood and validated. This is key to breaking down barriers and connecting on a human level.

An interesting chapter. Not as easy to take on board immediately- I’ll need to sit with it a bit. Helped with desensitising the word ‘no’ and breaking down the concept of the sense of control it builds really got me thinking. It does seem a bit more forced than the other techniques- like you just have to get it over quick and then build from there.

Labelling sounds like a great piece for building better relationships and having more meaningful conversations. The focus of this chapter on empathy was eye opening. I’m picking up a lot of techniques useful for everyday interactions that I hope will help me be a better communicator and make people feel comfortable when talking with me. Getting into psychology helps humanise even the most difficult people.

Definitely going to try mirroring. I like how it’s not all just listing dos and donts, but telling as story while doing so.