--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The sweetest two words in any negotiation…" description: "\"The sweetest two words in any negotiation are actually, 'That's right.' Before you convince them to see what you're trying to accomplish, you have to s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb0/christopher-voss-13010_accomplish_the-sweetest-two-words-in-any-negotiatio_2747093.jpg" --- # The sweetest two words in any negotiation are actually… ![“The sweetest two words in any negotiation are actually, 'That's right.' Before you convince them to see what you're trying to accomplish, you have to say the things to them that will get them to say, 'That's right.'” quote by Christopher Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb0/christopher-voss-13010_accomplish_the-sweetest-two-words-in-any-negotiatio_2747093.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb0/christopher-voss-13010_accomplish_the-sweetest-two-words-in-any-negotiatio_2747093.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb0/christopher-voss-13010_accomplish_the-sweetest-two-words-in-any-negotiatio_2747093.jpg) > “The sweetest two words in any negotiation are actually, 'That's right.' Before you convince them to see what you're trying to accomplish, you have to say the things to them that will get them to say, 'That's right.'” [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 hinges on reflecting the other’s perspective to gain agreement. **In simple terms:** Say “That’s right” to align with their view. Key Takeaway Validate others to build agreement. Themes negotiation communication empathy Mood strategic empathetic Type tactical inspirational When to use this quote - sales meetings - conflict resolution - team alignment Key Concepts psychology persuasion Questions to Reflect On - When is mirroring appropriate? - How to avoid manipulation? A Different Perspective Overreliance may seem insincere. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accomplish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplish/) [Convince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/convince/) [Negotiation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negotiation/) [Negotiation Actually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negotiation-actually-3070425/) [Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right/) [Right Convince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-convince-3070427/) [Say Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say-right/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Two Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two-words/) [Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will/) [Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words/) [Words Negotiation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words-negotiation-3070426/) ## Related quotes > [If I had a choice, I'd say I'm right-handed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-conley-jr/if-i-had-a-choice-i-d-say-i-m-right-handed/) [Mike Conley Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-conley-jr/) > [I'm the type of guy if you say something right now, whenever I see you, I'm going to hold you to that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-masvidal/i-m-the-type-of-guy-if-you-say-something-right-now-whenever-i-see-you/) [Jorge Masvidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-masvidal/) > [Say my name slowy,Say my name right, Cause baby you'll be screamin it by the end of the night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/say-my-name-slowy-say-my-name-right-cause-baby-you-ll-be-screamin-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Whether you say you can or you can't you're right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rye/whether-you-say-you-can-or-you-can-t-you-re-right/) [Rye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rye/) > [At a time when political correctness is valued over honesty I would also like to say, 'Right on!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/at-a-time-when-political-correctness-is-valued-over-honesty-i-would/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [“I tried to think of the right thing to say, but sometimes the right thing to say is nothing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-david-hutchinson/i-tried-to-think-of-the-right-thing-to-say-but-sometimes-the-right/) [Shaun David Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-david-hutchinson/) > [Listen how they say your name. If they can't say that right, there's no way they're going to know how to treat you proper,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-dove/listen-how-they-say-your-name-if-they-can-t-say-that-right-there-s-no/) [Rita Dove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-dove/) > [The bottom line in all of this seems to say, there's no right and wrong way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/offspring/the-bottom-line-in-all-of-this-seems-to-say-there-s-no-right-and/) [Offspring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/offspring/) > [Whether you say you can't or you can, you're right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/whether-you-say-you-can-t-or-you-can-you-re-right/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [“Everything I say is right. "Everything I say is wrong. There are many conflicting opinions in this industry. Don't take one person's word as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-russell/everything-i-say-is-right-everything-i-say-is-wrong-there-are-many/) [Paul Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-russell/) > [As an actor, you're trained to do the right thing, be politically correct, say your lines, say the right thing about the people you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idris-elba/as-an-actor-you-re-trained-to-do-the-right-thing-be-politically/) [Idris Elba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idris-elba/) > [“When there are no gods to judge, who can say what is right or wrong?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-scull/when-there-are-no-gods-to-judge-who-can-say-what-is-right-or-wrong/) [Luke Scull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-scull/) > [As I always say, 'Not always right, but never in doubt.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-schreyer/as-i-always-say-not-always-right-but-never-in-doubt/) [William Schreyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-schreyer/) > [I have a new television show in the works, and that is all I can say right now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angie-stone/i-have-a-new-television-show-in-the-works-and-that-is-all-i-can-say/) [Angie Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angie-stone/) > [At a time when political correctness is valued over honesty I would also like to say right on motherfuckers!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/at-a-time-when-political-correctness-is-valued-over-honesty-i-would-2/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) ## 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. People are most used to giving the counterfeit yes because they've been trapped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-voss/there-are-three-kinds-of-yeses-there-s-commitment-confirmation-and/) [Christopher Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-voss/) [Explore all 52 Christopher Voss quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-voss/) ## More Accomplish quotes > [Learn to see the big picture. Often times we get tunnel vision and lose sight of the big picture and what we're really trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cheeke/learn-to-see-the-big-picture-often-times-we-get-tunnel-vision-and/) [Robert Cheeke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cheeke/) > [You know, by the time you reach my age, you've made plenty of mistakes if you've lived your life properly. So you learn. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/you-know-by-the-time-you-reach-my-age-you-ve-made-plenty-of-mistakes/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [I work every day. Sometimes I don't accomplish anything every day, but if I don't work every day, I get depressed and get afraid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/i-work-every-day-sometimes-i-don-t-accomplish-anything-every-day-but/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [God has given believers the responsibility of spreading the Gospel to all the world, and we need to use all at our disposal to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-epp/god-has-given-believers-the-responsibility-of-spreading-the-gospel-to/) [Theodore Epp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-epp/) > [ \[The Community's\] crosses and trials give me confidence. But I derive my hope above all, and most especially, from our utter incapacity, for it… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-guerin/the-community-s-crosses-and-trials-give-me-confidence-but-i-derive-my/) [Theodore Guerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-guerin/) > [There's things that you want to accomplish, but to do that you have to work. That's the name of the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-schwarber/there-s-things-that-you-want-to-accomplish-but-to-do-that-you-have-to/) [Kyle Schwarber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-schwarber/) > [To accomplish much you must first lose everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/che-guevara/to-accomplish-much-you-must-first-lose-everything/) [Che Guevara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/che-guevara/) > [We have to think about the future and what it is we want to accomplish from this party.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-bernice-johnson/we-have-to-think-about-the-future-and-what-it-is-we-want-to/) [Eddie Bernice Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-bernice-johnson/) > [Everything that I have ever hoped to accomplish, she has done and done better than anyone I have ever seen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-hathaway/everything-that-i-have-ever-hoped-to-accomplish-she-has-done-and-done/) [Anne Hathaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-hathaway/) > [There's a lot that I want to accomplish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/there-s-a-lot-that-i-want-to-accomplish/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [For what we want to accomplish in the future, we have to be able to view everything from the eyes of the customer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-katz/for-what-we-want-to-accomplish-in-the-future-we-have-to-be-able-to/) [Karen Katz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-katz/) > [And for me the only way to live life is to grab the bull by the horns and call up recording studios and set…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-frusciante/and-for-me-the-only-way-to-live-life-is-to-grab-the-bull-by-the-horns/) [John Frusciante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-frusciante/) > [A great tennis career is something that a 15-year-old normally doesn't have. I hope my example helps other teens believe they can accomplish things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-sharapova/a-great-tennis-career-is-something-that-a-15-year-old-normally-doesn/) [Maria Sharapova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-sharapova/) > [Somebody once told me that if you laugh at a George Bush joke, or you send an email cartoon to your friends that makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-ramis/somebody-once-told-me-that-if-you-laugh-at-a-george-bush-joke-or-you/) [Harold Ramis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-ramis/) > [One should not withdraw from individuals and commit to the community what they can accomplish by their own enterprise and industry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-pius-xi/one-should-not-withdraw-from-individuals-and-commit-to-the-community/) [Pope Pius XI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-pius-xi/) [Browse all 2,426 Accomplish quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplish/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The sweetest two words in any negotiation are actually, 'That's right.' 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