How to Untiea Balloon
A Negotiator’s Guide to Avoid Popping Under Pressure
Pressure is inevitable. How you handle it determines everything.
The Second Edition
Expanded, with new insights on conflict and pressure
In this expanded hardcover edition, former hostage negotiator and Conflictish® founder Ryan Dunlap delivers a practical framework for staying composed under pressure, resolving conflict, and leading effectively when the stakes are high.
With a new chapter and new and expanded stories from real-world, life-or-death negotiations, Ryan reveals how unchecked pressure distorts thinking, escalates conflict, and quietly sabotages relationships at work and at home.
The 2027 Book Tour
Coming to a city near you
The first edition of How to Untie a Balloon reached readers worldwide and was translated into other languages. Now Ryan is hitting the road with the expanded second edition, bringing the F.I.R.S.T. Steps to readers, leaders, and teams in person.
Dates and venues announced soon · Planned stops include
- Chicago, IL
- Atlanta, GA
- New York, NY
- Virginia
- More cities to come
The Pressure Principle
Every leader carries pressure.
Keep scrolling and watch it build.
The Framework
Get untied with the F.I.R.S.T. Steps
At the center of this practical guide is the F.I.R.S.T. Steps framework, a clear, repeatable process for navigating difficult conversations with confidence and control. Whether you’re leading a team, negotiating a deal, strengthening a partnership, or working through personal conflict, it equips you to break complex tension into manageable parts and move toward resolution.
Inside the Book
You’ll learn how to
- 01Regulate emotion in the heat of conflict to preserve your credibility and influence
- 02Identify the deeper interests driving tension and move beyond surface disagreements
- 03Prevent escalation and protect relationships under stress
- 04Approach high-stakes conversations with clarity and structure
- 05Transform pressure from a liability into a leadership advantage
Praise for the Book
What leaders are saying
“Nobody explains conflict―and what to do about it―as well as Ryan Dunlap. A master communicator and a gifted negotiator, he’s the coach we all need to help us navigate the mine fields of modern life.”
About the Author
Written by a negotiator who’s seen pressure up close
Ryan Dunlap is a former SWAT hostage negotiator and crisis intervention officer, and the founder of Conflictish®. In this book, he shares lessons and insights from navigating critical incidents, giving readers practical strategies to overcome pressure in their personal and professional lives.
Book Details
Reserve your copy today
Preorder the second edition now and it will ship as soon as it’s released. Planning a team read or an event? Ryan’s team can help with bulk orders.