Hostage negotiation is the method of communicating with an individual or group holding one or more people against their will in dangerous, malicious situations.
The goal of hostage negotiation is to de-escalate the situation and secure the release of the hostages while minimizing the risk of harm to all parties involved.
Crisis negotiation requires patience, quick thinking, persuasion and an ability to read people.
Conducting Hostage Negotiations
Step 1) Negotiation Preparation
Before a hostage negotiation begins, time willing, the negotiator must take steps to prepare for it. This includes gathering information about the kidnapper or terrorist organization that is holding a person captive.
Step 2) Establishing Communication
Once preparation has been completed, the next step is to establish communication with the kidnappers or terrorist organization. This typically happens through an individual who can act as an intermediary between the two parties in order to facilitate negotiations without putting either side at risk.
Step 3) Negotiate
Only after establishing communication and building some level of rapport with the hostage-taker, negotiators can begin bargaining for a resolution that benefits both sides without putting anyone at risk or sacrificing hostages’ safety in any way.
The negotiator must be willing to compromise when necessary but also firm enough not to give away too much ground if you want successful results.