294. Ask & You Shall Receive: Questions For Better Negotiations
294. Ask & You Shall Receive: Questions For Better Negotiations  
Podcast: Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques
Published On: Thu Jun 04 2026
Description: Do you really win the negotiation if it means losing the relationship?You might think that successful negotiation means getting what you want here and now. But Stan Christensen says this short-sighted view is selling many negotiators short.Christensen is a professional negotiator, host of the All Things Negotiation podcast, and instructor of one of Stanford's most popular courses on the subject. His core insight: most negotiations happen with people you’ll see again — which means success isn’t about claiming victory, it’s about building long-term, mutually beneficial relationships. “Most people think of negotiation statically,” he says. “It's you and I. There's a fixed pie. We're trying to get more for ourself and less for the other party. In reality, 95% of negotiations are gonna be with people you see again, so I define success as contributing to the value of the long-term relationship.”In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Christensen and host Matt Abrahams explore what it takes to negotiate well — from the power of listening and asking questions to managing emotions and communicating for collaboration. Whether you're negotiating a business deal or just deciding where to go to dinner, Christensen shows why every negotiation is an opportunity to strengthen the relationship.Episode Reference Links:Stan ChristensenAll Things Negotiation PodcastEp.15 The Art of Negotiation: How to Get More of What You WantEp.204 Tough Talks: Turn Tension Into Trust Connect:Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart PremiumEmail Questions & Feedback >>> hello@fastersmarter.ioEpisode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn Chapters:(00:00) - Introduction (00:43) - What Is Negotiation? (01:22) - Negotiating Every Day (02:24) - The Power of Listening (03:57) - Asking Better Questions (05:58) - Handling Emotions (06:56) - Authentic Emotion (07:54) - Body Language Matters (08:45) - Collaboration in Negotiation (10:23) - Framing Conversations (11:48) - Setting the Agenda (13:10) - Co-Creating Structure (14:46) - A Common Negotiation Mistake (15:25) - Why Start a Podcast (16:29) - Learning from Guests (17:26) - The Final Three Questions (22:53) - Conclusion ********Thank you to our sponsors.  These partnerships support the ongoing production of the podcast, allowing us to bring it to you at no cost.Strawberry.me. Get 50% off your first coaching session today at Strawberry.me/smartJoin our Think Fast Talk Smart Learning Community and become the communicator you want to be.