In a word. Leverage. If you have no leverage, you can't really negotiate. You may be able to limit damage to an extent, but you are now in the position of being prodded to your breaking point by the other party. I assume this is for a job interview. The best way to have leverage is to already have another job. This way you don't really need the job, and thus have leverage. They will have to increase incentives to exceed your current employment by at least a 5% margin or it isn't worth your time. If it isn't for a job interview, leverage is always the answer still. People are human. Almost everyone has some sort of compulsive behaviour that if outed to the right people will harm them. Many people are into drink/drugs/whores. Many have mistresses or affairs. If the stakes are high in your life, hire a private investigator to get you the basic information on the person you need leverage on. This will probably cost you about $3,000. If the stakes are higher than that, it will be money well spent. Go in to your meeting knowing more about that person than they think anybody knows about them.