Negotiation preparation brief

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

Change note: Initial version

Prompt

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.

Variables

• {{situation}}Situationtextrequired

  Default: Negotiating a salary and start date for a senior product manager role

• {{counterparty}}Counterpartytextrequired

  Default: Hiring manager and recruiter at a 300-person fintech; they have been recruiting for 4 months

• {{my_goals}}My goals and limitslongrequired

  Default: Target $165k base plus equity; would accept $150k if equity is meaningful; need 4 weeks before starting; won't accept less than $145k.

• {{alternatives}}Alternativestextrequired

  Default: One other offer at $148k, and I am currently employed at $140k

• {{relationship}}Relationship and timingtextrequired

  Default: Good rapport; they want an answer by Friday

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.

Notes

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.