Negotiate and Win: Proven Strategies from the NYPDs Top Hostage Negotiator

It Ain’t Small If It’s Talk

The point there—besides the total irrationality of baseball fans—is that there is no such thing as small talk in a negotiation. You need personal chatter to build a rapport. And sometimes it happens in just completely unpredictable and even bizarre ways.

Should every negotiation begin with baseball talk?

No. And frankly, I can do without any baseball talk, as my team is in the cellar this year. But you get the drift.