Chris Voss is a former FBI hostage negotiator who has become a renowned expert in negotiation, communication, and leadership. He is the founder and CEO of the Black Swan Group, a consulting firm that provides training and advice to businesses, non-profits, and government agencies on negotiation strategies and techniques.
Voss gained his reputation as a negotiation expert during his 24-year career in the FBI, where he worked as the lead international kidnapping negotiator and as a member of the FBI’s Crisis Negotiation Unit. He was involved in some of the most high-profile hostage situations in recent history, including the 1993 siege of the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas.
After leaving the FBI, Voss continued to teach negotiation and communication skills to individuals and organizations through his work at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business, Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, and the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
Voss is the author of the book “Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It,” which has become a bestseller and is widely regarded as one of the most practical and effective negotiation guides available. The book draws on Voss’s experience as a hostage negotiator and offers insights and techniques that can be applied to any negotiation, whether it’s a business deal, a salary negotiation, or a personal conflict. Voss’s approach emphasizes the importance of empathy, active listening, and strategic framing in negotiation and has been praised for its practicality and effectiveness.
