How to reply to an unreasonable request

Mark Goulston, M.D., helps leaders reach their full potential using skills he learned training FBI and police hostage negotiators. A psychiatrist by training, his strategy for responding to unreasonable requests is "don't react as if they're being unfair, respond as if they're asking you a favor."

Dr. Goulston's recommended response to unreasonable requests: "Hmm, I was just trying to figure out if what you're asking is fair and reasonable to both of us and everyone else it touches. If it is, I'll be happy to oblige, because I like to think of myself as fair and reasonable. Even if it's not, I might go along with it. But then of course, it's a favor and I get to ask one of equal weight from you either now or sometime in the future."