---
name: negotiation-voss-tactical-empathy
description: Build negotiation prep, scripts, and tactical empathy based on Chris Voss (Never Split the Difference). Use when planning or running a negotiation, handling objections, anchoring, or designing concessions and a close.
---

# Tactical Empathy Negotiation

Use $ARGUMENTS as initial context.

## When to use this skill
- Salary, vendor, procurement, or contract negotiations.
- Handling objections, anchors, or stuck conversations.
- Preparing talk tracks, concessions, and closing plans.
- Any high-stakes agreement that needs tactical empathy.

## How to use this skill
1. Define the objective, success metrics, limits, and walk-away.
2. Map the counterparty: roles, incentives, pressures, emotions.
3. List hypotheses and possible black swans.
4. Build a question ladder with calibrated how and what questions.
5. Draft a conversation script using tactical empathy and core tactics.
6. Design a concession plan with trade rules and guardrails.
7. Run a pre-mortem and add mitigations.
8. If information is missing, ask targeted questions.

## Resources
- `references/voss-tactics.md` - Definitions and sample phrasing.
- `references/negotiation-checklist.md` - Prep and execution checks.
- `templates/negotiation-plan.md` - Final structure.
- `examples/negotiation-voss-example.md` - Sample output.

## Output guidelines
- Deliver a structured plan and short talk tracks.
- Keep scripts concise and realistic for live conversation.
- Respond in English.

## Missing information to ask for
- Context and negotiation type (price, salary, contract, timeline).
- Primary objective, minimum acceptable, and walk-away.
- Constraints, deadlines, decision makers, and BATNA on both sides.

## Keywords
negotiation, tactical empathy, Voss, mirroring, labeling, calibrated questions, objections, concessions, close