Christopher Voss Quotes

In my years as the FBI's lead international kidnapping negotiator, I learned an important fundamental lesson: Hostage negotiation is often nothing more than a business transaction.

My father's a police officer, and he's told me numerous times about his training and how they've gone through what they call verbal judo, which is essentially them trying to de-escalate the situation.

I had some training on how to cope with hostage-taking.

The approach of danger always lends precision to the diplomatic art.

The best police officers I know (no matter what their physical stature) have one common trait: their ability to communicate with others. Personally, I do not have the physical stature to dominate those with whom I come in contact, so I have had to develop excellent communication skills that help me talk people into handcuffs.

I don't think I'm a particularly good negotiator.

My negotiation skills are are on par with George Bush's reading ability. And just like Dubya, every time I've tried to put forth an effort, I am reminded that my only true strength lies in drinking.

I don't think it's a matter of going back and having a review of our process. Our process is about as thorough as there can be. Is it imperfect? Yes. Is there risk? Yes, but we start with the fact that we have an American that's being held hostage and that American's life is in danger and that's where we start. And then we proceed from there.

I think sometimes you have to handle things delicately at work or at home. You know, you can find yourself in situations that are like opening a closet filled with bowling balls that are going to fall out of it, but if you handle things graciously, then that's not going to happen.

I've spent my life navigating through sensitive issues. Not wanting to upset people.

As a comic and as a nurse, it's important to look calm on the surface when you're absolutely crapping yourself inside. So, if someone is waving a machete at you, which has happened to me when I was a nurse, it's important to make that person feel that you're in control.

My career was always about working with people, and understanding issues and problems and helping them to solve those issues and problems. How you deal with people - that's what diplomacy is all about. So while I'm not a career diplomat, many of the skills I had seemed to directly translate into the diplomatic arena.

A prime minister has to keep a certain balance when dealing with sensitive issues.

I'm a mediator by training and inclination.

So much of life is a negotiation - so even if you're not in business, you have opportunities to practice all around you.

One of the first rules of playing the power game is that all bad news must be accepted calmly, as if one already knew and didn't care.

I'm not a screamer. I'm confrontational, but I don't think that translates into anger.

There were times that I needed to go to battle, but how I went to battle wasn't always the best way in.

I would like to be George Clooney diplomatic. I just don't have the wherewithal yet or the inner serenity.

On land, you can walk away from people, from unpleasant situations. But when you're on a ship for 14 months with 49 other people, if you don't resolve your issues it literally could mean - and this would be an extreme circumstance - the sinking of the ship. You learn a lot about other people. You learn a lot about yourself.

I have a talent for dealing with difficult men.

President Obama's biggest weakness is weakness.

The ability to deal with people is as purchasable a commodity as sugar or coffee and I will pay more for that ability than for any other under the sun.

I would not like to try any high stress job. Honestly, I wouldn't like something like a PR job. I can't diffuse situations.

I'll tell you something: my dad was a nuclear engineer and he was really bright, and I've always said that because of negotiating at such a young age with my dad, it was really such a gift because I could then negotiate with very difficult personalities - and not end up being the scapegoat. I learned to really pick and choose my battles.