Derek Gaunt: Fight Less, Win More Through Tactical Empathy

Your next difficult conversation may not need a stronger argument. It may need a better question. In this episode of Mick Unplugged, Mick sits down with his coach, Derek Gaunt, for a personal conversation about the communication skills that changed how Mick leads, negotiates, and approaches conflict. Derek draws on his law-enforcement and hostage-negotiation experience to explain tactical empathy: recognizing another person's perspective without having to agree with it. He breaks down why explaining too early creates resistance, how tone affects a conversation, and why an objection can point to a concern that has not yet been spoken aloud. Mick shares how asking what success looked like to a client uncovered a need he had missed. Derek also discusses the practical ideas behind Fight Less, Win More, the role of curiosity, and why difficult conversations often deserve a phone call instead of another long email. The conversation closes with lessons on coachability, silence, trust, and staying grounded under pressure. **In this episode** - Why acknowledging a perspective is different from agreeing with it. - How listening helps uncover the information missing from your assumptions. - Why you should ask what success looks like before deciding what someone needs. - What a hostage-negotiation training exercise reveals about tone and pressure. - How unaddressed concerns can resurface after an agreement. - Why Derek encourages live conversation for sensitive back-and-forth discussions. - What coachability looks like when someone is already successful. - How silence creates space to learn. **Takeaways** Before your next difficult conversation, replace one assumption with a question. Listen to the answer before preparing your response. Follow Mick Unplugged for more conversations about the because behind how we live, lead, and grow. **Connect & Discover:** **Instagram:** @derekmgaunt **LinkedIn**: @derek-gaunt-2943a824 **Website:** The Black Swan Group **Book:** Fight Less, Win More: How Master Negotiators Influence Hearts, Minds and Deals **Clip:** 60 Seconds or She Dies                          **FOLLOW MICK ON:** **Spotify:** MickUnplugged **Instagram:** @mickunplugged  **Facebook**: @mickunplugged**YouTube:**  @MickUnpluggedPodcast  **LinkedIn:** @mickhunt  **Website**:  MickHuntOfficial.com **Website:** howtobeagoodleader.com **Website:** Leadloudseries.com **Apple**: MickUnplugged **Book:** How to be A Good Leader When You’ve Never Had One #MickUnplugged #Leadership #Podcast #DerekGaunt #Negotiation