Not every bad deal needs a long-winded explanation.
Sometimes it just needs a face.
You know the one.
That split-second pause when someone says something wildly off—
and you just look at them.
Not with rage. Not with panic. Just quiet disbelief.
Like: “You serious right now?”
That’s a pattern disruptor.
And every decent negotiator needs it.
Because bad deals don’t usually show up fully formed.
They creep in as “just a thought” or “a quick ask”
And most people—out of fear, politeness, or internalized don’t-rock-the-boat conditioning—nod along until they’re halfway underwater.
But a solid “are you kidding me?” face stops that energy cold.
It breaks the auto-yes cycle.
It forces the other side to hear what they just said—without you saying a word.
You’re not mocking. You’re not escalating.
You’re simply refusing to validate something absurd.
It’s not about confrontation. It’s about clarity.
And yeah—done right, it’s weirdly generous.
You’re giving the other person a soft place to reconsider before it turns into a problem.
So yeah, work on your offer strategy.
But also—practice the face.
It’s saved more deals than most pitch decks ever will.