Negotiation preparation brief

Prepare for a negotiation with your goals, their likely interests, trade-offs, opening position, concessions and scripted responses to pushback.

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Prompt template
Help me prepare for a negotiation. Act as a seasoned negotiator and sparring partner.

Situation: {{situation}}
Counterparty and what I know about them: {{counterparty}}
My goals and limits: {{my_goals}}
My alternatives if no deal is reached: {{alternatives}}
Relationship and timing: {{relationship}}

Produce a preparation brief with these sections:
1. **My position**: target outcome, realistic outcome, walk-away point. Say whether my alternatives make my walk-away credible.
2. **Their likely position**: interests and pressures behind what they say they want, their probable alternatives, and what they fear. Label your guesses as guesses.
3. **Issues and trade-offs**: a table of every negotiable item (price, timing, scope, terms, extras) with the relative value to me and a guess at the value to them. Highlight trades where something cheap for me is valuable to them.
4. **Opening plan**: my first offer with the reasoning, how to anchor, and the exact words for the first two minutes.
5. **Concession plan**: the order in which I give things up, what I ask for in return each time, and my limits.
6. **Pushback script**: the 5 most likely objections or tactics and a calm response to each.
7. **Questions to ask them**: 5 questions that reveal their real priorities.
8. **Close**: how to confirm agreement and what to put in writing.

Keep it practical and honest; no manipulative tactics.
Example output
**My position:** target $165k + equity, realistic $155-160k + equity, walk-away $145k. Your current job and a $148k offer make walking away credible. **Their likely position (guesses):** four months of searching means pressure to close; the budget band is probably $150-170k; they fear losing you and restarting. **Trade-offs** | Item | Value to me | Value to them | |---|---|---| | Base salary | High | High, constrained by band | | Equity | High | Low-medium | | Signing bonus | Medium | Medium, one-off | | Start date (4 weeks) | Medium | Medium | **Opening:** "I'm excited about this role. Based on scope and the market, I'm looking for $165k base with a meaningful equity grant. Can we talk about how to get there?" **Concessions:** first trade start date flexibility for a higher base; next trade some base for equity or a signing bonus; do not go below $150k without more equity. **Pushback:** "That's above our band." Response: "What flexibility exists in equity or a signing bonus to close the gap?" **Questions:** How is performance rewarded? What is the equity vesting schedule? What is the timeline for decisions? **Close:** confirm every term by email and request the written offer.

Why it works

Separating target, realistic and walk-away points, and scripting responses to pushback, lets you rehearse rather than improvise. Swap the situation for a supplier, client or partnership deal and it works just as well.

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