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How-Question Strategy

Instead of direct "no", say "how can I do that?" — opponent solves your problem.

5 min Intermediate

Goal

Implicit refusal by making opponent solve his hard request.

Steps

  1. 1
    When asked hard, say "how can I do this?"
2 more steps locked

Expected Outcome

Immediate
Avoid confrontation.

Evidence base

School: FBI

Founders: Chris Voss (2016)

Voss.

Keywords

Frequently asked questions

How long does "How-Question Strategy" take?
This exercise takes about 5 minutes, practiced with another person in a Inner dialogue format.
When will I notice the effect of "How-Question Strategy"?
Avoid confrontation. In the short term: Softens demands.
Is "How-Question Strategy" evidence-based?
Yes — it draws on FBI (Chris Voss (2016)). Voss.
Is "How-Question Strategy" suitable for beginners?
Its difficulty level is: Intermediate. No external tools required — it can be practiced directly inside the app.

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