October 1, 2026

Derek Gaunt: Fight Less, Win More Through Tactical Empathy

Your next difficult conversation may not need a stronger argument. It may need a better question. In this episode of Mick Unplugged, Mick sits down with his coach, Derek Gaunt, for a personal conversation about the communication skills that changed how Mick leads, negotiates, and approaches conflict. Derek draws on his law-enforcement and hostage-negotiation experience to explain tactical empathy: recognizing another person's perspective without having to agree with it. He breaks down why explaining too early creates resistance, how tone affects a conversation, and why an objection can point to a concern that has not yet been spoken aloud. Mick shares how asking what success looked like to a client uncovered a need he had missed. Derek also discusses the practical ideas behind Fight Less, Win More, the role of curiosity, and why difficult conversations often deserve a phone call instead of another long email. The conversation closes with lessons on coachability, silence, trust, and staying grounded under pressure. In this episode Why acknowledging a perspective is different from agreeing with it. How listening helps uncover the information missing from your assumptions. Why you should ask what success looks like before deciding what someone needs. What a hostage-negotiation training exercise reveals about tone and pressure. How unaddressed concerns can resurface after an agreement. Why Derek encourages live conversation for sensitive back-and-forth discussions. What coachability looks like when someone is already successful. How silence creates space to learn. Takeaways Before your next difficult conversation, replace one assumption with a question. Listen to the answer before preparing your response. Follow Mick Unplugged for more conversations about the because behind how we live, lead, and grow. Chapters 00:00 Meet Derek Gaunt, Mick's coach 03:29 The Because: sharing the gift of communication 05:25 Derek's journey in law enforcement 11:33 The Unplugged Truth: see their perspective 16:44 What does success look like? 19:41 The warning signs you should not ignore 21:45 Hot Takes: tone and pressure in negotiation 28:09 Find the concern beneath the objection 31:05 Why the conversation needs a phone call 35:05 Fight Less, Win More 39:08 The Room: a conversation that changed Derek's path 41:30 What Derek looks for in someone he coaches 45:05 When the skills change your personal life 48:12 The Unplugged Five 53:00 Silence as a negotiation tool 54:17 Trust, training, and final lessons 56:43 Closing Connect & Discover: Instagram: @derekmgaunt LinkedIn: @derek-gaunt-2943a824 Website: The Black Swan Group Book: Fight Less, Win More: How Master Negotiators Influence Hearts, Minds and Deals Clip: 60 Seconds or She Dies FOLLOW MICK ON: Spotify: MickUnplugged Instagram: @mickunplugged Facebook: @mickunpluggedYouTube: @MickUnpluggedPodcast LinkedIn: @mickhunt Website: MickHuntOfficial.com Website: howtobeagoodleader.com Website: Leadloudseries.com Apple: MickUnplugged Book: How to be A Good Leader When You’ve Never Had One #MickUnplugged #Leadership #Podcast #DerekGaunt #Negotiation

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About this Show

Mick Unplugged

Everybody talks about your WHY. Mick Hunt goes deeper. Mick Unplugged is the leadership and personal growth podcast built on one idea: your BECAUSE is the purpose underneath your purpose, and it is the most powerful force you own. Hosted by Mick Hunt, USA Today bestselling author and the voice of Modern Leadership, every episode sits across from a high performer, founder, athlete, or culture-shaper and asks the one question they cannot fake an answer to. What is your BECAUSE? Past guests include Shark Tank stars Daymond John and Kevin O'Leary, entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk, motivational legend Les Brown, Chef Robert Irvine, comedians Rickey Smiley and Earthquake, NFL Hall of Famer Jared Allen, hospitality mogul David Grutman, and World Series champion Jeremy Guthrie. No scripts. No surface-level fluff. Just the real fire behind why they refused to quit. If you are a leader, an entrepreneur, or someone who is done coasting on motivational quotes, this is your show. You will walk away every week with mindset shifts, leadership strategy, and the kind of straight talk that actually moves you forward. New episodes drop weekly. Follow Mick Unplugged on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube so you never miss one. Your BECAUSE is your Superpower. Go Unleash It.