James Álvarez

Dr. James R Álvarez is an internationally recognized authority on hostage negotiations, advanced influence, persuasion and change management techniques.

A Consultant Psychologist and the only consultant ever used by both Scotland Yard and NYPD’s Hostage Negotiation Teams, he literally wrote the definition of Hostage and Crisis Negotiations, the chapter about The Psychological Impact of Kidnap and the course for Broadmoor Hospital Hostage Negotiators.

He has helped manage the safe resolution of over 24 kidnap for ransom and ship piracy cases, was European Operations Director of the International Association of Hostage Negotiators for more than 6 years and is an Honorary Police Surgeon of the NYPD. Other clients include FTSE and Fortune 100 companies, military / intelligence agencies and health services of various countries.

His extraordinary depth of experience in negotiations makes him a world expert in corporate behaviour change management and he is a guest lecturer at the London Business School and elsewhere.

A charismatic, memorable presenter with outstanding teaching and speaking skills gained through many invited international addresses & media appearances, his fun, dynamic, style makes it easy for audiences to describe him as, “Superb! Brilliant speaker! Had me hooked! Fantastic, memorable; Very high energy! Inspiring, practical and very helpful! Unique and fascinating.”

His consultancy focuses on two main practice areas:

Critical Incident Preparation and Response:

Providing consultation and training in hostage negotiations and post-trauma treatment to businesses, families, international law enforcement, the kidnap for ransom insurance industry and commercial security services.

Organisational Development:

Includes the provision of business psychology services such as:

• Business strategy development
• Change management
• Business process redesign
• Organisational culture change
• Training programme development and delivery
• Communications
• Leadership development
• Executive coaching

Dr. James Alvarez’s depth of experience in crisis and consequence management, post-trauma treatment, conflict resolution, negotiations and kidnap and ransom makes him a leading expert in these fields.

His exciting and dynamic hands-on style makes it easy for audiences to relate to him.

Dr. Álvarez’s extraordinary depth of experience in crisis management, hostage negotiations and communications make him a world expert in advanced influence and persuasion techniques.

THE PSYCHOLOGY OF PERSUASION:

We would all like to be better at it. We admire those who are good at it. Persuasive people are more successful at everything they do. Yet we dislike liars & charlatans.

This presentation explores the fundamentals of honest persuasion & gives practical ways to appropriately use persuasion techniques in business and life.

Dr. Jim Alvarez will teach everyone, no matter the personality, ways to improve their influencing skills at work, at home and in all areas of life.

You will learn to:

• Use the six basic tendencies of human persuadability
• Apply those tendencies to work and personal situations
• Manage others resistance
• Better manage difficult people

MEDIA:

James Alvarez has made numerous media appearances in the US, UK, Europe and Australasia. He has been featured in the Discovery Times Network production “Kidnap and Rescue: The Roy Hallums Story” and the A&E / Channel 4 production:  “Talk To Me: Hostage Negotiators of the NYPD”, a 90 minute documentary about one of the Hostage Negotiation Teams he works with.

He has been quoted in the Financial Times, The Independent, Euroweek Magazine, The Press Gazette and Management Today as well as in various broadcast media including CNN, ITV, Reuters and the BBC.

Dr. James Alvarez received his PhD in Clinical Psychology from Columbia University. He is bilingual in English and Spanish and lives in London.