MasterClass, the streaming platform where anyone can learn from the world’s best across a wide range of subjects, announced former FBI hostage negotiator, entrepreneur and author Chris Voss is back to teach his second class, this time bringing the whole team from The Black Swan Group, through the platform’s new product offering, Sessions by MasterClass—a structured, 30-day curriculum where members can roll up their sleeves, get hands-on experience and learn meaningful skills through step-by-step guidance and an engaged community of peers. Ahead of a new year with promotions and career changes on many people’s minds, Voss will teach how to win workplace negotiations, guiding members through fundamental tactics to help with a range of interactions at work, from leading a project to negotiating a pay raise. Voss’ session is now available exclusively on MasterClass, where subscribers get unlimited access to all 150+ classes, including Voss’ first class, and sessions with an annual membership.
“With an epic 24-year career as the lead crisis and international kidnapping negotiator at the FBI, Chris has successfully managed some of the most crucial negotiations of all time,” said David Rogier, founder and CEO of MasterClass. “In 2020, his lesson on tactical empathy was the most popular lesson on MasterClass, and in his session we’re excited to give members even more access to his strategies, including real-life demonstrations and the tactics and skills needed to achieve their goals in the workplace.”
Through practical scenarios and hands-on activities, Voss will teach members strategies for building rapport, strengthening personal influence, coming to agreements and finding solutions as a team. He enlists expert negotiators from his consulting firm, The Black Swan Group, to help break down negotiation techniques they have honed over decades of training the world’s top business leaders. Voss will push members to try these tactics in their everyday work lives for high-leverage situations, performance reviews, team assignments and in gaining trust as respected peers and leaders. Throughout the session, members will practice and participate in simulations such as negotiating a raise at work and renegotiating a lease. To build trust, Voss will dive deep into the skills of mirroring, labeling, integrating dynamic silence and navigating deadlines in negotiation. By the end of the 30-day session, members will leave with 12 tactics to become more confident negotiators and ready to enhance their influence at work and reach their goals.
“This session is for anyone who is looking to improve their lives and influence the world around them,” Voss said. “In this session, I will share key negotiation and interpersonal skills to become a more confident colleague, trusted leader and help members leverage these tactics to advance their professional lives.”
Voss is the CEO and founder of the Black Swan Group and author of Never Split the Difference: Negotiating as if Your Life Depended on It. Voss began his career with the New York City SWAT team before finding his true calling, negotiation. He rose through the ranks quickly and soon became the lead crisis negotiator for the New York City Division of the FBI, and ultimately went on to become lead international kidnapping negotiator for the FBI. Voss has taught business negotiation in the MBA program as an adjunct professor at University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business and at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business. He has used his many years of experience in international crises and high-stakes negotiations to develop a unique program that applies these proven techniques to the business world and everyday life.
