AI Negotiation Coach

A free negotiation coach that runs in your own Claude account. Download the files, add them to a Claude Project, and use it for any negotiation.

Get the two files

I’m Serge Osaulenko, an AI consultant. I built the AI set-up for real estate agents.

Negotiate with an AI coach at your side

In your first chat, the coach asks what you are negotiating, who the other side is, what you want and by when. Then you pick one of five ways to work:

  • Prepare. Build your plan before you talk: your goal, your best option if there is no deal, what the other side may need, and the questions to ask.
  • Draft. Write or check an email, a message or a script, in two or three versions when that helps.
  • Role play. The coach plays the other side and pushes back with real tactics, such as pressure and silence, then tells you what you did well, what you missed and how to handle it better.
  • Debrief. Go over a negotiation that already happened: what went well, what didn’t, and what to do next time.
  • Strategy. Map a bigger deal with several people or several rounds: who has a say, what order to go in, and the long game.

It works from the methods of Jim Camp, Chris Voss, Fisher and Ury, and Robert Cialdini, written out in the frameworks file you upload.

Set it up

Step 1: Create a Claude Account (or Log In)

Go to claude.ai and create an account if you don't have one. If you already have a Claude account, just log in.

You'll need a Claude account. We recommend Claude Pro, $20 a month, at a minimum: the free plan is very limited.

To keep your chats out of Claude's training, turn off 'Help improve our AI models' in Claude's privacy settings.

Step 2: Create a New Project

Once you're logged in, look for "Projects" in the left sidebar. Click it, then click "New project", then "Create project". Name it something like Negotiation Coach (the name is just for you).

Step 3: Load Your Coaching System

This is where the magic happens. You're going to load two things into your new project: the system prompt and the knowledge base.

A. Project Instructions (system prompt): Download ai-negotiation-coach-instructions.txt from this page, open it, and copy all of its text. Under Instructions, click Add. In the Set project instructions box, paste the text, then click Save instructions.

B. Knowledge Base: Download negotiation-frameworks.txt from this page. On the Project's page, under Context, click Add, then Upload from device, and choose the file.

That's it: your coach is ready.

Full guide: setup-guide.txt

The files

Build a prompt

SCENARIO 1: SALARY NEGOTIATION

I'm preparing to negotiate my compensation and I need your help
building a strategy.

Here's my situation:

ROLE: [Job title you're negotiating for: new offer or current
position renegotiation]

CURRENT/OFFERED COMP: [What they've offered or what you currently
make. Include base, bonus, equity, benefits if relevant]

MY TARGET: [What you want to walk away with. Be specific on
base, total comp, or whatever matters most]

MY WALKAWAY: [The minimum you'd accept before declining or
staying put]

WHAT I KNOW ABOUT THEIR POSITION: [Budget constraints, how
badly they need you, competing candidates, timeline pressure,
anything you've picked up]

MY LEVERAGE: [Other offers, specialized skills, relationships,
track record, anything that strengthens your position]

WHAT CONCERNS ME: [What makes this negotiation tricky: they
already seem firm, I don't want to damage the relationship,
I don't know the market rate, etc.]

Help me prepare. I want a full strategy before I go into
this conversation.

SCENARIO 2: VENDOR / CONTRACTOR PRICING

I need to negotiate pricing with a vendor and I want to make
sure I handle this well.

Here's the situation:

WHAT THEY'RE PROVIDING: [Service, product, or deliverable;
be specific about scope]

THEIR QUOTE: [The number they gave you; include any terms
like monthly, per project, retainer, etc.]

MY BUDGET: [What you can actually spend; be honest about
your ceiling]

THE GAP: [How far apart you are, and how flexible you think
each side is]

OUR RELATIONSHIP: [New vendor, existing relationship, referral,
competitive bid; context matters]

THEIR ALTERNATIVES: [Are they busy? Do they need this work?
Are you one of many prospects or their top priority?]

MY ALTERNATIVES: [Other vendors you're considering, ability
to do it in-house, or ability to delay/skip entirely]

WHAT MATTERS BEYOND PRICE: [Timeline, quality, ongoing
relationship, payment terms, scope flexibility]

Help me build a strategy to negotiate this down to something
that works, without burning the relationship or getting
a worse deliverable.

SCENARIO 3: BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP TERMS

I'm entering a partnership discussion and I need help
structuring my approach before we get into specifics.

Here's what I know:

THE PARTNERSHIP: [What this partnership is about: joint
venture, revenue share, co-development, referral arrangement,
equity partnership, etc.]

THE OTHER PARTY: [Who they are, what they bring, their
reputation, your existing relationship]

WHAT THEY WANT: [Their stated position: equity split,
revenue share percentage, decision authority, exclusivity,
whatever they've put on the table]

WHAT I WANT: [Your ideal structure; be specific about
split, control, timeline, exit terms]

WHAT I THINK THEY ACTUALLY NEED: [Your read on their
underlying interests: security, credibility, cash flow,
control, upside, etc.]

WHAT CONCERNS ME: [Power imbalance, misaligned incentives,
unclear roles, lack of trust, past issues, anything
keeping you up at night]

TIMELINE: [When does this need to be resolved? What's
driving the timeline?]

Help me think through this strategically. I want to go
into this conversation with a clear framework, not just
react to whatever they propose.

SCENARIO 4: REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION

I'm in a real estate negotiation and I want help
getting the best possible terms.

Here's the situation:

I'M THE: [Buyer / Seller]

THE PROPERTY: [Type, location, approximate value: enough
context for the coach to understand the stakes]

CURRENT STATUS: [Where things stand: listed, under
contract, counter-offer stage, inspection period, etc.]

THE NUMBERS: [Asking price, my offer/target, any
contingencies, closing timeline, other financial terms]

THE OTHER SIDE: [What I know about the seller/buyer:
motivation, timeline pressure, emotional attachment,
other offers, agent dynamics]

MY LEVERAGE: [Cash offer, flexibility on closing date,
pre-approval strength,
other properties you're considering]

MY CONCERNS: [Inspection issues, appraisal gap,
multiple offers, emotional seller, agent playing games,
financing timeline, etc.]

WHAT I NEED HELP WITH: [Overall strategy, specific
counter-offer, how to handle a tricky agent, whether
to push or hold, etc.]

Help me navigate this negotiation. I want specific
tactical advice, not general real estate wisdom.

SCENARIO 5: CLIENT / SALES DEAL

I'm working on closing a deal with a client and I'm
hitting resistance. I need help navigating this to
a signed agreement.

Here's the situation:

WHAT I'M SELLING: [Product, service, or engagement;
describe the scope clearly]

THE CLIENT: [Who they are, their role, their company,
their decision-making authority]

THE DEAL SIZE: [Revenue/contract value at stake]

WHERE WE STAND: [Proposal sent, verbal yes but no
signature, back-and-forth on terms, going dark, etc.]

THE RESISTANCE: [What's holding them up: price, scope,
timing, internal politics, competing options, fear,
indecision, need approval from above, etc.]

WHAT I'VE TRIED: [What you've already done to move
this forward: follow-ups, concessions, conversations]

WHAT I KNOW ABOUT THEIR NEEDS: [Their pain points,
what they've told you matters, their timeline, their
budget signals]

MY WALKAWAY: [At what point does this deal stop being
worth it for you?]

Help me figure out what's actually going on here and
build a plan to get this across the finish line,
without chasing or discounting my way there.

More scenarios

expansion-pack.txt

CATEGORY 1: ADVANCED NEGOTIATIONS

  • SCENARIO 1: MULTI-PARTY NEGOTIATION
  • SCENARIO 2: NEGOTIATION RECOVERY
  • SCENARIO 3: HIGH-STAKES CONTRACT RENEWAL
  • SCENARIO 4: HOSTILE COUNTERPARTY
  • SCENARIO 5: NEGOTIATING FROM WEAKNESS

CATEGORY 2: SPECIFIC CONTEXTS

  • SCENARIO 6: FREELANCER RATE NEGOTIATION
  • SCENARIO 7: STARTUP EQUITY AND COMPENSATION
  • SCENARIO 8: MEDICAL BILL NEGOTIATION
  • SCENARIO 9: DIVORCE / SEPARATION ASSET DIVISION
  • SCENARIO 10: LANDLORD-TENANT NEGOTIATION

CATEGORY 3: ROLE-PLAY SCENARIOS

  • SCENARIO 11: THE HARDBALL BUYER
  • SCENARIO 12: THE EMOTIONAL MANIPULATOR
  • SCENARIO 13: THE SILENT TREATMENT
  • SCENARIO 14: THE NIBBLER
  • SCENARIO 15: THE GOOD COP / BAD COP

GUIDED INTERACTIVE TOOLS

  • TOOL 1: ACKERMAN GUIDED WALKTHROUGH
  • TOOL 2: FOLLOW-UP AFTER SILENCE SEQUENCE
  • TOOL 3: ACCUSATION AUDIT BUILDER

From the seminar: a to-do assistant

The second assistant we build at the AI Education seminar. When you ask, it reads your recent email and puts what you need to do on a to-do list in a Notion page. It adds to-dos you tell it, and any new chat in the same Project can read the list back.

You’ll need: a Claude account, a Gmail address and a Notion account (you can make a free one at notion.com). We recommend Claude Pro, $20 a month, at a minimum: the free Claude plan is very limited.

Step 1: Connect Gmail and Notion.

In Claude, click Customize in the left sidebar, then Connectors. Find Gmail (or type it in Search) and click the + on its card, or open the card and click Connect to Claude. Sign in with Google when it asks. Do the same for Notion. Each one asks you to allow Claude access; say yes.

Step 2: Create a New Project.

In Claude, click Projects, then New project. Name it To-do assistant and click Create project.

Step 3: Add the instruction.

Under Instructions, click Add, paste the text below, and save.

You are my to-do assistant. My to-do list is the Notion page titled "My to-do list". If it doesn't exist, create it at the top level of my Notion. Keep it as a simple checklist. When I ask, read my recent emails and add anything I need to do. When I tell you a to-do, add it. When I ask what's on my list, read that page and tell me what's on it.

Step 4: Try it.

In a new chat inside the Project, try these one at a time:

  • Check my recent emails and put what I need to do on my to-do list.
  • Add one: call the dentist to move my appointment.
  • Then open a brand-new chat in the same Project and ask: What’s on my to-do list?

Choose Auto if the message box shows Manual or Auto. In Auto you may see "Checking this step before running it" for up to about 20 seconds. Nothing to click; it goes on by itself.

That’s it: it read your email, wrote your list in Notion, and a new chat found it there.

The first message can take about a minute while it reads your email. If the list comes up short, your recent emails may not hold much to do; tell it a to-do and it adds it. If it says it can’t reach Gmail or Notion, click + in the message box, then Connectors, and check both are on.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need Claude Pro for the coach? You'll need a Claude account. We recommend Claude Pro, $20 a month, at a minimum: the free plan is very limited.

Can I use this with ChatGPT? No. This Coach is built specifically for Claude Projects. Loading these files into other tools won't produce the same results.

How is this different from just asking Claude? Generic Claude gives general advice. This coach has structured frameworks from Camp, Voss, Fisher & Ury, and Cialdini, specialized session modes, and instructions that catch common negotiation mistakes.

Can I customize the instructions? Yes. Advanced users can change them on the Project's page, under Instructions. But try it as-is first: it's designed to work out of the box.

Is my data private? The Coach runs in your own Claude account. Selenko never sees your conversations.

Responses seem generic. What's wrong? Two common causes: (1) The project instructions didn't paste correctly: check your project settings. (2) You're chatting outside the project: make sure you start chats from within your Negotiation Coach project.

NON-AFFILIATION DISCLAIMER

This product is an independent educational resource. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to Chris Voss, Jim Camp, the Black Swan Group, the Camp Negotiation Institute, Roger Fisher, William Ury, the Harvard Negotiation Project, Robert Cialdini, or any other named individual or organization. The negotiation concepts referenced are presented in the creator's own words and interpretations.