A Free Online Course from The Black Swan Group

Your words matter—but your tone seals the deal. In this free course, you’ll learn how your tone can make or break a negotiation. If you're not intentionally controlling it, you’re unintentionally sabotaging your outcomes.

Tone is the amplifier of Tactical Empathy® and the key to building trust, diffusing tension, and influencing outcomes in high-stakes conversations. Through four actionable modules and a final quiz, you’ll learn how to master tone as your secret weapon in negotiation.

Module 1: Why Tone Matters in Communication

• Understand the impact of tone on negotiation outcomes.

• Identify the key elements of tone: pitch, pace, and rhythm.

• Learn how tone shapes intent, emotional delivery, and clarity—especially in contrast to written communication.

Module 2: The Secret to Strategic Influence

• Discover how tone interacts with core Black Swan skills like Labels™, Mirrors™, and Accusations Audits™.

• Explore the mindset needed to project the right tone.

• Learn how tone enhances Tactical Empathy® and builds trust in any scenario.

Module 3: Techniques to Improve and Practice Tone

• Master posture and breathing strategies to adjust your tone in real time.

• Understand how tone challenges differ by gender and personality.

• Get daily tone exercises, real-world practice tools, and examples from great communicators.

Module 4: Application and Troubleshooting Tone Missteps

• Apply tone strategies to real negotiation scenarios.

• Learn to recognize when your tone is off—and recover with clarity and composure.

• Build resilience and control in high-pressure interactions through stress-tested exercises.

• 4 bite-sized, high-impact modules rooted in real-world negotiation.
• Practical techniques to strengthen and refine your communication tone.
• A final quiz to reinforce key concepts and assess your understanding.
• The confidence to navigate even the toughest conversations with control and clarity.