In today's episode, we're diving into the fascinating world of crisis negotiation with Nicky Perfect, an international hostage and crisis negotiator turned trainer and speaker. Helen Packham and Nicky explore the profound impact of listening and validation, the ethical dilemmas faced in crisis situations, and the art of building trust through truthful and empathetic communication. This episode promises to equip you with techniques that can be applied not just in negotiations but in everyday life and leadership.

Here are the highlights:

00:00 Introduction

03:17 Chasing a mysterious man doing handstands on a hospital rooftop on Christmas night.

06:32 Heart-pounding anxiety resolved by trusting intuition..

11:25 Rescue personality focuses on self-awareness and personal development, aiming to avoid solving others' problems.

13:06 Transition from being a rescuer to a coach by enabling self-rescuing.

18:28 Focus on logic and trust in conversations.

25:28 Focus on listening and observing cues before speaking.

28:14 Strength can be a disadvantage if mishandled; in crises, deception may be necessary for positive outcomes.

32:16 Use empathetic language and validate feelings in negotiations and with teenagers.

35:48 The coffee shop became a hub for supporting vulnerable people through conversation.

36:26 Engaging in difficult conversations on the train helped Nicky step out of her comfort zone and connect with people in crisis.

Connect with Nicky Perfect:

Nicky spent 31 years as a Metropolitan police officer and the last 10 of those years as an international hostage and crisis negotiator.

Nicky worked on the elite New Scotland Yard Hostage and Crisis Negotiation Unit. She has travelled the world teaching negotiation and working with Her Majesties Government on international operations and had the privilege of talking to hundreds of people in crisis. 

In the 2022 Queen’s New Year’s Honours List, she was awarded the British Empire Medal for “meritorious service to the community during the pandemic”, this led to an invitation to the King's Coronation in 2023.

She is the author of the best selling book “Crisis – true stories from my life as a hostage negotiator” published by HQ Harper Collins. 

Nicky lives with her partner, step daughter, 8 goats, 4 dogs and 2 pigs. In 

her own words

 “life is never boring”. 

Watch Nicky’s TED talk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pqs-tFrKv_o

Order her book

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0008561168?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_2HGT5311SGWJMYD6WKG1

Connect with Nicky

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickyperfect-communicationcoach/

Connect with Helen:

Website: helenpackham.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/helenpackham

Facebook: www.facebook.com/helenpackhamcoach

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/helenpackham

Produced by winteraudio.co.uk