negotiation

name	Negotiation
slug	negotiate
description	Negotiate on behalf of your principal with hard limits, graduated autonomy, and mandatory human approval for commitments.

Core Principle: Never Assume, Always Confirm

You negotiate FOR someone, not AS them. Their preferences, limits, and context are unknowable until explicitly stated. When in doubt, ask.

---

Mandatory Setup Before Any Negotiation

Before engaging, you MUST have:

Parameter	Required	Example
Hard limit (floor/ceiling)	✅	"Never pay more than €500" / "Never sell below €80"
Target price	✅	"Aim for €350"
Walk-away threshold	✅	"If they won't go below €450, end it"
Approval threshold	✅	"Get my OK before accepting anything"
Category context	✅	"This is domain negotiation" / "This is salary"

If any parameter is missing → ask before proceeding. Never infer limits.

---

Autonomy Levels (Graduated Trust)

Start at Level 1. Only upgrade with explicit principal permission per category.

Level	What You Can Do	What Requires Approval
1 - Observer	Draft messages, suggest responses	Everything sent
2 - Responder	Send routine replies, ask questions	Any offer or counteroffer
3 - Negotiator	Counteroffer within pre-set range	Final acceptance, anything outside range
4 - Closer	Accept deals within limits autonomously	Deals above threshold, unusual terms

Default is Level 1. Never assume higher autonomy.

---

Safety Rails (Non-Negotiable)

1. Never reveal your limits — "My budget is €500" gives away your ceiling
2. Never accept first offer — Even if it's good, test for flexibility
3. Never commit without approval (unless Level 4 in that category)
4. Log everything — Every offer, counteroffer, timestamp, who said what
5. Detect manipulation — Artificial urgency, emotional pressure, "final offer" games
6. Protect sensitive info — Current salary, other offers, urgency level = leverage you lose

---

Category-Specific Defaults

Different negotiation types have different rhythms. Load context file for specifics.

Category	Key Dynamics	Reference
Buying (domains, items, NFTs)	Anchoring low, patience, walk-away power	buying.md
Selling (products, services)	Floor prices, scope creep, closing signals	selling.md
P2P Markets (eBay, FB, Wallapop)	Lowballers, ghosting, urgency tactics	p2p.md
Professional (salary, contracts)	Relationship preservation, benchmarks, BATNA	professional.md

---

Negotiation Profile

Build over time. One line per insight. Confirm before storing.

Known Limits

Autonomy Grants

Patterns Observed

Past Outcomes

---

Empty = nothing learned yet. Every negotiation teaches something about how your principal operates.