--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The best messages in any given…" description: "\"The best messages in any given negotiation are really implied indirectly, come to the other person based on thinking that you're getting them to do - g..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92f/christopher-voss-13010_best_the-best-messages-in-any-given-negotiati_2200309.jpg" --- # The best messages in any given negotiation are really… ![“The best messages in any given negotiation are really implied indirectly, come to the other person based on thinking that you're getting them to do - getting them to get some really solid thought behind their answers. And so a great thing to send someone in an email is, 'Have you given up on this…” quote by Christopher Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92f/christopher-voss-13010_best_the-best-messages-in-any-given-negotiati_2200309.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92f/christopher-voss-13010_best_the-best-messages-in-any-given-negotiati_2200309.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92f/christopher-voss-13010_best_the-best-messages-in-any-given-negotiati_2200309.jpg) > “The best messages in any given negotiation are really implied indirectly, come to the other person based on thinking that you're getting them to do - getting them to get some really solid thought behind their answers. And so a great thing to send someone in an email is, 'Have you given up on this project?'” [Christopher Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-voss/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective negotiation often relies on indirect cues that prompt the counterpart to reveal their true position and motivations. **In simple terms:** Use subtle prompts to uncover hidden thoughts. Key Takeaway Ask strategic questions to surface real concerns. Themes negotiation communication psychology Mood strategic analytical professional Type advisory tactical When to use this quote - sales meetings - team discussions - conflict resolution - project planning Key Concepts influence indirect questioning active listening Questions to Reflect On - What indirect question could reveal a hidden objection? - How can you frame a challenge without sounding confrontational? A Different Perspective If the counterpart senses manipulation, they may shut down or become defensive. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best/) [Best Messages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-messages-4830298/) [Given Negotiation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/given-negotiation-4830296/) [Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great/) [Messages Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/messages-given-4830297/) [Negotiation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negotiation/) [Negotiation Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negotiation-really-4830295/) [Person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/person/) [Project](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/project/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [“Books are the best messages and gifts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/disha/books-are-the-best-messages-and-gifts/) [disha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/disha/) > [Successful negotiation is not about getting to 'yes'; it's about mastering 'no' and understanding what the path to an agreement is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-voss/successful-negotiation-is-not-about-getting-to-yes-it-s-about/) [Christopher Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-voss/) > [What I really think of myself as is a person who's great at negotiation coaching and consulting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-voss/what-i-really-think-of-myself-as-is-a-person-who-s-great-at/) [Christopher Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-voss/) > [If your first objective in the negotiation, instead of making your argument, is to hear the other side out, that's the only way you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-voss/if-your-first-objective-in-the-negotiation-instead-of-making-your/) [Christopher Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-voss/) > [When you expect to get into a negotiation, you expect to be faced by a guy that's going to attack you, a guy or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-voss/when-you-expect-to-get-into-a-negotiation-you-expect-to-be-faced-by-a/) [Christopher Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-voss/) > [Negotiation is often described as the art of letting the other side have your way. You have to give the other side a chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-voss/negotiation-is-often-described-as-the-art-of-letting-the-other-side/) [Christopher Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-voss/) > ['Fair' is, like, this incredibly overused term in negotiations: 'I just want what's fair.' 'What's the fair market price?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-voss/fair-is-like-this-incredibly-overused-term-in-negotiations-i-just/) [Christopher Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-voss/) > [A lasting relationship consists of the 3 C's: Commitment. Communication. Compromise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/a-lasting-relationship-consists-of-the-3-c-s-commitment-communication/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [The human spirit will not invest itself in a compromise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fritz/the-human-spirit-will-not-invest-itself-in-a-compromise/) [Robert Fritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fritz/) > [Donald Trump so far is sending a signal that he's going to run the government like his business and maybe that's going to work.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/donald-trump-so-far-is-sending-a-signal-that-he-s-going-to-run-the/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [“All the major players were our clients. I had handled the conflicting demands, pacified the volatile tempers, and anticipated and circumvented the irrational tantrums.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliann-garey/all-the-major-players-were-our-clients-i-had-handled-the-conflicting/) [Juliann Garey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliann-garey/) > [“Duty is a done deal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/duty-is-a-done-deal/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [We're always willing to look at ways NAFTA can work better. But it's a fine line between looking at ways to make it work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-harper/we-re-always-willing-to-look-at-ways-nafta-can-work-better-but-it-s-a/) [Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harper/) > [“Simple answers, reductionist politics, are the most prone to compromise, to saying we’re addressing the essential issue and all that other stuff can slide.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/simple-answers-reductionist-politics-are-the-most-prone-to-compromise/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [A compromise is the art of dividing a cake in such a way that everyone believes he has the biggest piece.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-erhard/a-compromise-is-the-art-of-dividing-a-cake-in-such-a-way-that/) [Ludwig Erhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-erhard/) ## More by Christopher Voss > ['Fair' is, like, this incredibly overused term in negotiations: 'I just want what's fair.' 'What's the fair market price?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-voss/fair-is-like-this-incredibly-overused-term-in-negotiations-i-just/) [Christopher Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-voss/) > [Negotiation is often described as the art of letting the other side have your way. You have to give the other side a chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-voss/negotiation-is-often-described-as-the-art-of-letting-the-other-side/) [Christopher Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-voss/) > [When you expect to get into a negotiation, you expect to be faced by a guy that's going to attack you, a guy or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-voss/when-you-expect-to-get-into-a-negotiation-you-expect-to-be-faced-by-a/) [Christopher Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-voss/) > [If your first objective in the negotiation, instead of making your argument, is to hear the other side out, that's the only way you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-voss/if-your-first-objective-in-the-negotiation-instead-of-making-your/) [Christopher Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-voss/) > [What I really think of myself as is a person who's great at negotiation coaching and consulting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-voss/what-i-really-think-of-myself-as-is-a-person-who-s-great-at/) [Christopher Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-voss/) > [Successful negotiation is not about getting to 'yes'; it's about mastering 'no' and understanding what the path to an agreement is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-voss/successful-negotiation-is-not-about-getting-to-yes-it-s-about/) [Christopher Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-voss/) > [There's great power in deference. You ask somebody 'what' or 'how' questions. People love to be asked how to do something. They feel powerful,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-voss/there-s-great-power-in-deference-you-ask-somebody-what-or-how/) [Christopher Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-voss/) > [You're supposed to have a passionate purpose as a CEO.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-voss/you-re-supposed-to-have-a-passionate-purpose-as-a-ceo/) [Christopher Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-voss/) > [Emotions aren't the obstacles to a successful negotiation; they are the means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-voss/emotions-aren-t-the-obstacles-to-a-successful-negotiation-they-are/) [Christopher Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-voss/) > [Every job that you take, the term that you should always include is, 'How can I be involved in the strategic projects that are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-voss/every-job-that-you-take-the-term-that-you-should-always-include-is/) [Christopher Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-voss/) > [What drives you? What's your motivation? That's not emotion. That's passion. It's a different word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-voss/what-drives-you-what-s-your-motivation-that-s-not-emotion-that-s/) [Christopher Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-voss/) > [People typically only believe they're in a negotiation when dollars are involved. And maybe sometimes they're smart enough to see if there's a commodity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-voss/people-typically-only-believe-they-re-in-a-negotiation-when-dollars/) [Christopher Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-voss/) > [There are a lot of negotiators that really will give in on a deal because being understood is more important than getting what they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-voss/there-are-a-lot-of-negotiators-that-really-will-give-in-on-a-deal/) [Christopher Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-voss/) > [The first and best way to say 'no' to anyone is, 'How am I supposed to do that?' Now the other side actually has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-voss/the-first-and-best-way-to-say-no-to-anyone-is-how-am-i-supposed-to-do/) [Christopher Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-voss/) > [There are three kinds of yeses. There's commitment, confirmation, and counterfeit. 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