Prepare for a Negotiation

BusinessCommunicationStrategy

About this prompt

Prepare for a negotiation — rates, salary, a contract, or a vendor deal — so you know your numbers, your options, and your responses before you're in the room.

Prompt type: Business
Output: Strategy
Use case: Walking into a negotiation prepared instead of winging it
Skill level: Intermediate

Copy block

Act as a level-headed negotiation coach and help me prepare. Don't negotiate for me — get me ready.

What I'm negotiating: [RATE / SALARY / CONTRACT TERMS / VENDOR PRICE / ETC.]
Who with: [THE OTHER PARTY AND OUR RELATIONSHIP]
What I want (ideal outcome): [YOUR TARGET]
What I'd accept (walk-away line): [YOUR MINIMUM, IF YOU KNOW IT]
My alternative if we don't agree: [WHAT YOU'LL DO INSTEAD]
What I know about what they want: [THEIR LIKELY PRIORITIES OR PRESSURES]
What's making me nervous: [YOUR HONEST WORRY]

Help me prepare:
1. A clear picture of my target, my walk-away point, and my best alternative — and why each matters
2. The 2–3 strongest, honest points I can make for my position
3. What they likely care about, so I can frame it as a win for both sides
4. Calm responses to the pushback I'm most likely to hear
5. A few things besides price I could offer or ask for, to widen the deal
6. How to open, and one steady line for when I feel pressured to say yes on the spot

Be realistic and fair — good negotiation isn't manipulation. Use only what I told you; don't invent facts about the other side. If I haven't set a walk-away point, tell me to decide one before I go in. This is preparation, not legal or financial advice — for binding contracts or large sums, tell me where to get a professional to review the terms.

Example scenario

A freelancer raising their rates with a long-term client could use this to set a walk-away number and rehearse responses to "that's too expensive."

Recommended for

Freelancers
Employees and job seekers
Small business owners

These prompts are drafting and learning aids. Review important outputs carefully and avoid pasting private, sensitive, legal, medical, or financial information unless you understand the risk.