--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In a negotiation, that’s called labeling…" description: "\"“In a negotiation, that’s called labeling. Labeling is a way of validating someone’s emotion by acknowledging it. Give someone’s emotion a name and you..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aab/chris-voss-5746_negotiation_in-a-negotiation-that-s-called-labeling_1534897.jpg" --- # In a negotiation, that’s called labeling. Labeling is a… ![“In a negotiation, that’s called labeling. Labeling is a way of validating someone’s emotion by acknowledging it. Give someone’s emotion a name and you show you identify with how that person feels. It gets you close to someone without asking about external factors you know nothing about (“How’s…” quote by Chris Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aab/chris-voss-5746_negotiation_in-a-negotiation-that-s-called-labeling_1534897.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aab/chris-voss-5746_negotiation_in-a-negotiation-that-s-called-labeling_1534897.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aab/chris-voss-5746_negotiation_in-a-negotiation-that-s-called-labeling_1534897.jpg) > ““In a negotiation, that’s called labeling. Labeling is a way of validating someone’s emotion by acknowledging it. Give someone’s emotion a name and you show you identify with how that person feels. It gets you close to someone without asking about external factors you know nothing about (“How’s your family?”). Think of labeling as a shortcut to intimacy, a time-saving emotional hack.”” [Chris Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-voss/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Labeling validates emotions by naming them, creating rapport quickly without probing unrelated topics. **In simple terms:** Naming feelings builds trust fast. Key Takeaway Use labels to deepen connection. Themes communication negotiation empathy trustbuilding Mood strategic empathetic Type instructional practical When to use this quote - sales meetings - conflict resolution - team leadership - customer service Key Concepts psychology emotional intelligence rapport Questions to Reflect On - How can you ensure labels feel genuine? - When might labeling backfire? A Different Perspective Labeling may feel manipulative if overused or insincere. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Called Labeling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/called-labeling-5704562/) [Label](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/label/) [Labeling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labeling/) [Labeling Labeling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labeling-labeling-5704563/) [Labeling Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labeling-way-5704565/) [Negotiation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negotiation/) [Romance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/romance/) [Think Labeling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-labeling-5704564/) ## Related quotes > [“Imagining someone who will not collapse my complexity into compressed and simplified roles like friend, lover, genius, or ghost... such a being exists only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sov8840/imagining-someone-who-will-not-collapse-my-complexity-into-compressed/) [Sov8840](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sov8840/) > [I think it is very useful to know ourselves, but when we start naming and labeling, that is dangerous, that gets problematic. It negates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/i-think-it-is-very-useful-to-know-ourselves-but-when-we-start-naming/) [Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) > [A label is a mask life wears. We put labels on life all the time. 'Right,' 'wrong,' 'success,' 'failure,' . . . Labeling sets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-naomi-remen/a-label-is-a-mask-life-wears-we-put-labels-on-life-all-the-time-right/) [Rachel Naomi Remen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-naomi-remen/) > [When you label so much of what happens to you as 'bad,' it reinforces the feeling that you are a powerless pawn at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/srikumar-rao/when-you-label-so-much-of-what-happens-to-you-as-bad-it-reinforces/) [Srikumar Rao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/srikumar-rao/) > [“A label locks me into a definition that people use to control me. A vision graces me with an idea that serves to release…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/a-label-locks-me-into-a-definition-that-people-use-to-control-me-a/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“The last rule of labeling is silence. Once you’ve thrown out a label, be quiet and listen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-voss/the-last-rule-of-labeling-is-silence-once-you-ve-thrown-out-a-label/) [Chris Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-voss/) > [“Labeling has a special advantage when your counterpart is tense. Exposing negative thoughts to daylight—“It looks like you don’t want to go back to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-voss/labeling-has-a-special-advantage-when-your-counterpart-is-tense/) [Chris Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-voss/) > [“they should be teased out. Labeling is a helpful tactic in de-escalating angry confrontations, because it makes the person acknowledge their feelings rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-voss/they-should-be-teased-out-labeling-is-a-helpful-tactic-in-de/) [Chris Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-voss/) > [No day passes without a Democratic politician, a left-wing commentator, or, if I may be excused a redundancy, a left-wing academic labeling Republicans and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/no-day-passes-without-a-democratic-politician-a-left-wing-commentator/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [Comedy doesn't come easy for me. I've only done 2 movies that are really comedy-style films and I have to work at them. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/channing-tatum/comedy-doesn-t-come-easy-for-me-i-ve-only-done-2-movies-that-are/) [Channing Tatum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/channing-tatum/) > [This is a business meal. The calories do not count. I am mentally labeling these as 'business calories' so my body will know they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-guisewite/this-is-a-business-meal-the-calories-do-not-count-i-am-mentally/) [Cathy Guisewite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-guisewite/) > [Those who are highly evolved, maintain an undiscriminating perception. Seeing everything, labeling nothing, they maintain their awareness of the Great Oneness. Thus they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/those-who-are-highly-evolved-maintain-an-undiscriminating-perception/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [“Dads. Do you not realize that your child needs to feel your skin on his? Do you not realize the incredible and powerful bond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-pearce/dads-do-you-not-realize-that-your-child-needs-to-feel-your-skin-on/) [Dan Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-pearce/) > [Sometimes labeling is only useful, like with OCD. Once you're labeled you can be treated. On other occasions labeling leads to tyranny, like with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-ronson/sometimes-labeling-is-only-useful-like-with-ocd-once-you-re-labeled/) [Jon Ronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-ronson/) > [Nothing more guarantees the erosion of character than getting something for nothing. In the liberal welfare state, one develops an entitlement mentality. And the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/nothing-more-guarantees-the-erosion-of-character-than-getting/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) ## More by Chris Voss > [“Most of the time, you should be using the positive/playful voice. It’s the voice of an easygoing, good-natured person. Your attitude is light and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-voss/most-of-the-time-you-should-be-using-the-positive-playful-voice-it-s/) [Chris Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-voss/) > [“By repeating back what people say, you trigger this mirroring instinct and your counterpart will inevitably elaborate on what was just said and sustain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-voss/by-repeating-back-what-people-say-you-trigger-this-mirroring-instinct/) [Chris Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-voss/) > [“Every case is new. We must let what we know - our known knowns - guide us but not blind us to what we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-voss/every-case-is-new-we-must-let-what-we-know-our-known-knowns-guide-us/) [Chris Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-voss/) > [“The Downs hijacking case came to epitomize everything not to do in a crisis situation, and inspired the development of today’s theories, training, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-voss/the-downs-hijacking-case-came-to-epitomize-everything-not-to-do-in-a/) [Chris Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-voss/) > [“In any interaction, it pleases us to feel that the other side is listening and acknowledging our situation. 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They’ll usually give a longer answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-voss/when-you-phrase-a-label-as-a-neutral-statement-of-understanding-it/) [Chris Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-voss/) > [“There are essentially three voice tones available to negotiators: the late-night FM DJ voice, the positive/playful voice, and the direct or assertive voice. Forget…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-voss/there-are-essentially-three-voice-tones-available-to-negotiators-the/) [Chris Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-voss/) > [“Instead of addressing his grumpy behavior, you acknowledge his sadness in a nonjudgmental way. You head him off before he can really get started.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-voss/instead-of-addressing-his-grumpy-behavior-you-acknowledge-his-sadness/) [Chris Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-voss/) > [“Notice we said 'It sounds like . . .' and not 'I'm hearing that . . .' That's because the word 'I' gets people's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-voss/notice-we-said-it-sounds-like-and-not-i-m-hearing-that-that-s-because/) [Chris Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-voss/) > [“What were needed were simple psychological tactics and strategies that worked in the field to calm people down, establish rapport, gain trust, elicit the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-voss/what-were-needed-were-simple-psychological-tactics-and-strategies/) [Chris Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-voss/) > [“they should be teased out. Labeling is a helpful tactic in de-escalating angry confrontations, because it makes the person acknowledge their feelings rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-voss/they-should-be-teased-out-labeling-is-a-helpful-tactic-in-de/) [Chris Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-voss/) > [“List the worst things that the other party could say about you and say them before the other person can. Performing an accusation audit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-voss/list-the-worst-things-that-the-other-party-could-say-about-you-and/) [Chris Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-voss/) > [“There’s one powerful way to quiet the voice in your head and the voice in their head at the same time: treat two schizophrenics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-voss/there-s-one-powerful-way-to-quiet-the-voice-in-your-head-and-the/) [Chris Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-voss/) [Explore all 94 Chris Voss quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-voss/) ## More Label quotes > [I'm signed to a U.S. label, and I didn't enjoy the 3 A.M. phone calls. I'm not a great sleeper, so I didn't enjoy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/estelle/i-m-signed-to-a-u-s-label-and-i-didn-t-enjoy-the-3-a-m-phone-calls-i/) [Estelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/estelle/) > [“How would your life be different if...You could control the outcome of your day, your week, your year? Let today be the day...You embrace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/how-would-your-life-be-different-if-you-could-control-the-outcome-of/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [I think some people think I'm, like, anti-label, and I'm not. I just wanted to sign a deal when the time was right. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iggy-azalea/i-think-some-people-think-i-m-like-anti-label-and-i-m-not-i-just/) [Iggy Azalea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iggy-azalea/) > [The will to label will always prevail over what's being labeled, usually at the expense of either truth or understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boyd-rice/the-will-to-label-will-always-prevail-over-what-s-being-labeled/) [Boyd Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boyd-rice/) > [A label is a soul-tattoo that is ingrained deep in our hearts, so much so that it determines how we see ourselves, And how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derwin-l-gray/a-label-is-a-soul-tattoo-that-is-ingrained-deep-in-our-hearts-so-much/) [Derwin L. Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derwin-l-gray/) > [When people see you have a song on MTV, they think you are doing well - but you know, the way the traditional label…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-sobule/when-people-see-you-have-a-song-on-mtv-they-think-you-are-doing-well/) [Jill Sobule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-sobule/) > [I was always real deep into music. From everything, all around the board - from East Coast, West Coast, down South, everywhere. 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I'm more than a label.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-haley/i-think-any-label-is-bad-i-m-more-than-a-label/) [Nikki Haley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-haley/) > [The problem with working under an outside label is that your music never seems to reach the right people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kailash-kher/the-problem-with-working-under-an-outside-label-is-that-your-music/) [Kailash Kher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kailash-kher/) [Browse all 593 Label quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/label/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“In a negotiation, that’s called labeling. Labeling is a way of validating someone’s emotion by acknowledging it. Give someone’s emotion a name and you show you identify with how that person feels. It gets you close to someone without asking about external factors you know nothing about (“How’s your family?”). 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