Inside the Mind of a Hostage Negotiator - Scott Walker | Modern Wisdom 669

The video is about Scott Walker, a kidnap for ransom negotiator and crisis response consultant, discussing his background and experience in the field. He explains that kidnap for ransom is a specific subset of kidnapping that involves a ransom demand, and that most kidnappings have some kind of end goal that the kidnapper wants to achieve. He also discusses the business transaction aspect of kidnapping negotiations and the importance of finding a solution as quickly as possible. Walker discusses his team and their skill set, as well as the Avatar, a classic British negotiator persona. He also talks about the stress and uncertainty of times of crisis and how his career change from detective to negotiator was a good fit for him.

This video by Chris Williamson was published on Aug 19, 2023.
Video length: 52:16.

The video is about Scott Walker, a hostage negotiator and crisis response consultant, who shares his experiences and insights about the profession.

He explains that kidnap for ransom is a specific subset of kidnapping that involves a ransom demand, and that most kidnappings have some kind of end goal that the kidnapper wants to achieve. He also discusses the importance of finding a solution to the crisis as quickly as possible and the need to work as a team to achieve the desired outcome. Walker also talks about the Avatar, the classic British negotiator persona, and how he became interested in what makes people tick and how they act in times of stress, crisis, and uncertainty. He explains that he left his career as a detective to join a kidnap negotiation firm and underwent intensive training to become a professional negotiator. In the first 24 hours of a kidnapping, Walker advises reassuring the family and company and giving recommendations on strategy, pros, and cons. He emphasizes the importance of taking care of oneself and getting into a rhythm while waiting for a call.

When the phone rings, the negotiator needs to be prepared for a chaotic situation, but with experience, they can handle it gracefully.

• Scott Walker is a kidnap for ransom negotiator and crisis response consultant.
• Kidnapping for ransom is a specific subset of kidnapping that involves a ransom demand.
• Most kidnappings have some kind of end goal that the kidnapper wants to achieve.
• Kidnapping negotiations are a business transaction.
• The Negotiator is a team of highly switched on people who have each other's backs and have become very proficient in a certain skill set.
• The Avatar is a classic British negotiator persona.
• It is a role that is often associated with Scotland Yard.
• It is a role that is often associated with the military.
• It is a role that is often associated with the police.

Inside the Mind of a Hostage Negotiator - Scott Walker | Modern Wisdom 669 - YouTube

Background

• Scott Walker is a kidnap for ransom negotiator and crisis response consultant.
• Kidnap for ransom is a specific subset of kidnapping that involves a ransom demand.
• Most kidnappings have some kind of end goal that the kidnapper wants to achieve.
• Kidnapping negotiations are a business transaction.
• The Negotiator is a team of highly switched on people who have each other's backs and have become very proficient in a certain skill set.

The Avatar

• The Avatar is a classic British negotiator persona.
• It is a negotiator role that is known in the industry.
• It is a role that is often associated with Scotland Yard.
• It is a role that is often associated with the military.
• It is a role that is often associated with the police.

Times of Stress, Crisis, and Uncertainty

• Being a kidnap for ransom negotiator and crisis response consultant can be stressful and uncertain.
• It is a role that requires a lot of mental and emotional resilience.
• It is a role that requires a lot of physical and logistical coordination.
• It is a role that requires a lot of communication and negotiation skills.
• It is a role that requires a lot of adaptability and flexibility.

Inside the Mind of a Hostage Negotiator - Scott Walker | Modern Wisdom 669 - YouTube

Record and Hurry Up and Wait

• In the first 24 hours of a kidnapping, the focus is on getting on the plane or getting on the phone to reassure the family and company.
• The focus is on giving recommendations and pros and cons, and then taking a deep breath and relaxing as much as possible.
• The focus is on waiting for a call and getting into a rhythm.
• The focus is on looking after oneself and getting into a rhythm.
• The focus is on waiting for a call and then it's like headless chickens and running around.

The Business Transaction Aspect of Kidnapping Negotiations

• Kidnapping is a specific subset of kidnapping that involves a ransom demand.
• Most kidnappings have some kind of end goal that the kidnapper wants to achieve.
• Kidnapping negotiations are a business transaction.
• If the negotiations are messed up, people could die.
• Considerations such as logistics and internal politics need to be taken into account.

Developing Sensory Acuity

• Developing sensory acuity is important for negotiators.
• Someone with good sensory acuity can pick up on cues from the kidnapper.
• This can help the negotiator reduce the kidnapper's anxiety and stress.
• Reducing anxiety and stress can bring about objective, rational thinking.
• The goal of negotiations is to bring some order out of chaotic and stressful circumstances.

Challenges and Issues in High-Pressure Situations

• The negotiator has faced high-pressure situations in the past.
• The negotiator's first case involved a young son taken by a rival drug gang.
• The negotiator had to coach the other brother as the communicator.
• The negotiator had to deal with threats and a mock execution.
• The negotiator had to make quick decisions and adapt to changing circumstances.

The Avatar Negotiator Persona

• The Avatar is a classic British negotiator persona.
• The Avatar is calm, cool, and collected.
• The Avatar is able to bring order out of chaotic and stressful circumstances.
• The Avatar is able to reduce anxiety and stress in the kidnapper.
• The Avatar is able to bring objective, rational thinking to negotiations.

Background and Experience

• Scott Walker is a kidnap for ransom negotiator and crisis response consultant.
• He explains that kidnap for ransom is a specific subset of kidnapping that involves a ransom demand.
• Most kidnappings have some kind of end goal that the kidnapper wants to achieve.
• Walker discusses the business transaction aspect of kidnapping negotiations.
• He emphasizes the importance of finding a solution as quickly as possible.

Team and Skill Set

• Walker discusses his team and their skill set.
• He mentions the Avatar, a classic British negotiator persona.

Stress and Uncertainty

• Walker talks about the stress and uncertainty of times of crisis.
• He explains how his career change from detective to negotiator was a good fit for him.

Negotiation Techniques

• Walker discusses his approach to negotiating with kidnappers.
• He emphasizes the importance of building trust with the kidnapper.
• He talks about taking calculated risks in negotiations.

Types of Kidnapping Situations

• Individual kidnapping
• Company data kidnapping
• Cyber extortion
• Healthcare ransomware attacks

Differences between Kidnapping and Cyber Extortion

• In kidnapping, the hostage cannot be copied or cloned
• In cyber extortion, data has been extracted and/or encrypted
• Reputational risk is a factor in cyber extortion
• Business model of cyber extortionists is often to keep their word
• There are no guarantees in any negotiation or engagement

Risk Cost Benefit Analysis

• It is important to weigh up the risks and costs of different options
• The decision to negotiate or engage should be based on a risk cost benefit analysis
• The cost of lost opportunity should also be considered
• It is important to ensure that the RIT system is clean and does not have any malignant malware

Entertainment Value of Hijacked Series

• The entertainment value of the hijacked series is exceptional
• The writing is outstanding and bears in mind that the speaker does this for a living
• The speaker has been involved in one hijacking before
• The speaker is still hooked on the series as an entertainment value

Section 1: Overview of Kidnap for Ransom Negotiations

• Kidnap for ransom is a specific subset of kidnapping that involves a ransom demand.
• Most kidnappings have some kind of end goal that the kidnapper wants to achieve.
• The business transaction aspect of kidnapping negotiations is important.
• Finding a solution as quickly as possible is crucial.

Section 2: Scott Walker's Background and Experience

• Scott Walker is a kidnap for ransom negotiator and crisis response consultant.
• He has a team with specific skill sets for negotiating and managing crises.
• The Avatar is a classic British negotiator persona that Walker's team uses.

Section 3: The Importance of Understanding the Other Person

• The first rule of negotiation is to understand what makes the person tick.
• It's important to get curious to find out what their beliefs, motivations, needs, and values are.
• Listening properly and asking powerful open questions can help understand the other person's pain points and what they're looking for.

Section 4: The Role of Emotions in Negotiations

• Emotions play a big role in negotiations and can't be ignored.
• Paraphrasing and labeling techniques can help understand the other person's emotions.
• Naming emotions can help tame them and make negotiations more productive.

Section 1: Introduction

• The video is about Scott Walker, a kidnap for ransom negotiator and crisis response consultant.
• Kidnap for ransom is a specific subset of kidnapping that involves a ransom demand.
• Most kidnappings have some kind of end goal that the kidnapper wants to achieve.
• The business transaction aspect of kidnapping negotiations is important.
• The video discusses the importance of finding a solution as quickly as possible.

Watch the video on YouTube:
Inside the Mind of a Hostage Negotiator - Scott Walker | Modern Wisdom 669 - YouTube