Most professionals were never taught how to make their ideas land. Good ideas fail every day — not because they’re wrong, but because the person with the idea couldn’t make others care about it.
This three-day course teaches you to change that. You’ll learn to understand what the person across the table actually wants, and communicate in terms they care about. You work on your own real situations — not hypotheticals. You leave with a philosophy of communication you’ll use for the rest of your career.
By the end of three days, you’ll know how to articulate your ideas so that others want to understand you, and you will connect more deeply with those you care about.
- Negotiate over interests without techniques or charisma
- Deliver a memorable introduction for yourself and your organization
- Prompt others to share what they really think
- Present so others want to hear, understand, and contribute
- Explore foreign ideas without ego getting in the way
Vance Crowe
Many people leave important conversations feeling like they didn’t fully resolve the issue — and can’t explain what went wrong. Vance Crowe spent years figuring out why. As Communications Strategist for the World Bank and Director of Millennial Engagement at Monsanto, he stood before crowds of journalists, activists, and university groups where a single misquoted sentence could become a national headline — and learned that what most people think of as a communication problem is rarely just about the words they’re using.
He has since helped executives, negotiators, and salespeople communicate in ways that make others want to cooperate, and serves on the Board of Directors of FCS Financial, a seven-billion-dollar agricultural lending cooperative in Missouri. That same instinct for getting people to open up drives Legacy Interviews, where he video records individuals and couples sharing their life stories so that future generations can know their family history — and finds that people open up in ways they never expected, simply because someone was truly listening. What surprised him, when he began teaching it, was how quickly people change once they learn this philosophy.
Heath Hunter
Heath spent more than fifteen years in private equity and family-office investing — including senior roles at Broadview Group, Dot Family Holdings, and Prospect Partners — leading the negotiation of over 20 acquisitions and serving on the boards of operating companies through growth, conflict, and succession. He hired Vance to deliver IBC to his deal team at Broadview, witnessed the results firsthand, and joined as a co-facilitator to bring the same methods to a broader audience.
A story. A lesson. Practice. Then the group discusses what happened. Each session builds on the last — until what began as separate skills becomes a coherent philosophy of communication you have earned, not just heard about.
Interests & Mirroring
You will hear stories about negotiations that could have gone horribly wrong, but instead created amazing opportunities for everyone involved. Learn the concept of Interests and be given the chance to practice really listening to another person.
Introductions & Storytelling
This session teaches what makes stories “sticky.” Participants tell their own story and get actionable feedback about how it made others feel.
Dinner & The Mirror Exercise
The cohort breaks into small groups for an exercise in storytelling and listening over a family-style dinner in St. Louis. The night offers an opportunity to practice new skills and a chance to get to know each other better.
Conversations & Listening
You’ll learn how to stay present in a conversation and ask questions that deepen the exchange. You’ll practice a form of meditation and be given the opportunity to have a deep discussion.
Conflict & Alignment
This session teaches you to address emotions effectively. The group will learn to get others to share their ideas and feel understood.
The Dissent Paradox
After dinner on your own, the group reconvenes for an intense discussion exploring Dissent Paradoxes using the conflict skills learned during the afternoon. Then each person develops their own concept: something they believe, that might get pushback.
Presenting
This capstone session asks participants to stand behind an idea under pressure. You’ll learn how to structure a presentation that is easy to follow. You will get direct, candid feedback — the kind that tells you exactly where you stand, so you’re not left guessing. Most people give the best presentation of their career in this session.
Integration & What Comes Next
The final session belongs to the group. Work through a real situation with coaching and cohort feedback. Class ends at 2:00 PM.
“Super candidly, I’ve been through a lot of these in my career, and you walk out of there and you’re like, well, that was a waste of time. What I can tell you about what Vance brought to the table — I at no point ever felt that way. I was able to walk out of every single session and put to work immediately what we had practiced that day.”
— Steve, Broadview Group
Executives from Broadview Group on how Interest-Based Communication changed their team’s approach to negotiation and client relationships.
The course benefits from people at all levels. Executives, sales teams, managers, and individual contributors all bring different conflicts to the table — and that range makes the exercises better for everyone.
You don't need to be sent by a company. Consultants, founders, sales professionals, and anyone who negotiates or leads hard conversations — you're welcome to enroll directly.
“I’m by default an introvert. I think that I’ve developed the ability to interact with people in such a way that it’s energizing and it’s fun, and I look forward to interacting with strangers on a regular basis.”
— Benjamin Anderson, course participant
Cohorts scheduled in 2026.
Reserve Your Seat
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Questions? Email vance@legacyinterviews.com
Aion Biosciences on the impact of Interest-Based Communication training.
What is the refund policy?
Full refunds, minus transaction costs, are given up to 15 days before the course. Within 15 days, we will transfer you to a future session.
Can my company pay?
Yes. We can issue an invoice upon request. Email vance@legacyinterviews.com.
Is there a group rate?
Groups of four or more are welcome to inquire. Email vance@legacyinterviews.com.
What should I expect before and on day one?
In the weeks leading up to the course you’ll receive emails to get you thinking about the content. On day one, plan to arrive by 1:00 PM. Attire is business casual.
Where is the course held?
Legacy Interview Studios, 1034 S Brentwood Blvd, Suite 1680, Richmond Heights, MO 63117 — 12 minutes from Lambert Airport.
Where should I stay?
Two hotels are close to the studio. For convenience, the Homewood Suites by Hilton is next door — you can walk over in the morning. The Cheshire Hotel is a boutique option near Forest Park, 2.3 miles away. Both have negotiated rates available at legacyinterviews.com/blog/visitingstlouis.
Is this course right for me?
If you’ve ever felt like your ideas weren’t being understood, or that you could have better relationships — this course is for you. It’s not limited to negotiators or salespeople. The skills apply anywhere you’re in conversation with another person.
Not ready to commit to a date? Enter your email and we’ll let you know when the next cohort is announced.