15 Tools to Turn the Tide: A Step-by-Step Playbook for Empowered Negotiating

A revolutionary new guide to negotiating in the face of stress and adversity—from an award-winning professor of negotiation and conflict management who teaches at NYU’s Stern School of Business and Columbia’s School of International & Public Affairs.

Negotiation is hard. It’s especially tough when you feel like the underdog—whether you face a ‘Godzilla’ counterpart, face threats of budget cuts during a downturn, or know that you need a deal more than the other side does.  

Seth Freeman can help. Freeman is an award-winning professor who has taught negotiation to thousands of leaders and students. His clients range from Fortune 500 executives to kindergarteners, from top corporate lawyers to grad students just beginning their careers, from UN diplomats negotiating global problems to small business owners negotiating terms with suppliers. In 15 Tools to Turn the Tide, he shares field-tested techniques that can turn anyone into a much better negotiator.

Unlike other negotiation books, 15 Tools doesn’t just give key principles.  It also gives you a suite of customized, step-by-step devices—simple phrases, mnemonics, glance-and-go play sheets, and more—that you can learn, remember, and deploy well whenever you need them. Freeman guides you every step of the way, from preparation to the encounter itself, to the decision whether or not to accept the offer. Digestible, memorable, and groundbreaking, these tools are also designed to help you “win warmly”—doing well for yourself, even as you care for the other person too.

One tool, for example, gives you a handy 1-page ‘play card’ that guides you throughout the talks, eases your cognitive burden, and helps you discover hidden, satisfying deals others miss. It’s just one of the many innovative and much-loved instruments Freeman’s created that can dramatically improve your chances.

Whether you’re closing a multi-million dollar deal in a recession, negotiating a job offer, or just working out holiday dinner plans with your in-laws, 15 Tools to Turn the Tide gives you a roadmap to your goals—a relentlessly practical guide you’ll actually use again and again. 

Turn any negotiation in your favor with field-tested strategies for:

• Negotiating Under Pressure: Learn to stay calm and in control when facing a 'Godzilla' counterpart, high stakes, or unexpected adversity, ensuring you never feel like the underdog again.
• A Step-by-Step Toolkit: Go beyond abstract principles with a suite of memorable tools—including mnemonics and glance-and-go play sheets—that are easy to remember and deploy in the moment.
• Winning Warmly: Discover how to secure the best outcome for yourself while also caring for the other side, building stronger relationships and a reputation for being both fair and effective.
• Real-World Scenarios: Apply these powerful techniques to any situation, from negotiating a job offer or a multi-million dollar deal to navigating difficult conversations with colleagues and family.

Seth Freeman teaches negotiation at NYU’s Stern School of Business and at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. He is a sought-after trainer, consultant, and speaker, with clients including Fortune 500 companies, Am Law 50 law firms, UN diplomats, and NGOs. His interviews and essays have appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, Time, Fortune, and other major media.