Tutorial

Negotiation

The art and science of reaching agreements that serve your interests while maintaining relationships.

Tutorial·Difficulty: Intermediate·7 chapters·Updated May 10, 2026

Chapters

About this tutorial

How to reach agreements that serve your interests without burning the relationship.

Contents

FileDescription
01-fundamentals.mdCore principles, mindset, and what negotiation actually is
02-preparation.mdResearch, planning, and setting up before you walk in
03-tactics.mdTechniques, moves, and counter-moves
04-salary-compensation.mdJob offers, raises, promotions, and benefits
05-business-deals.mdContracts, partnerships, and commercial agreements
06-everyday-negotiations.mdVendors, services, purchases, and daily life
07-difficult-situations.mdConflict, bad faith, and power imbalances

Why This Matters

Everything is negotiable. Salary, contracts, prices, deadlines, responsibilities. Most people leave value on the table for four reasons:

  • They don't realise something is negotiable.
  • Asking feels uncomfortable.
  • They don't know how to ask.
  • They accept the first offer.

One good salary negotiation compounds into hundreds of thousands of dollars over a career. One bad contract costs you years.

Core Philosophy

  1. Negotiation is not conflict. It's joint problem-solving with a price tag attached.
  2. Never accept the first offer. There is almost always room.
  3. The person who cares less has more power. So develop alternatives.
  4. Preparation beats talent. Research and planning win.
  5. Relationships matter. Today's counterpart is tomorrow's reference.

Quick Start

If you're walking into a negotiation today:

  1. Read 02-preparation.md. Know your BATNA and their constraints.
  2. Read the chapter that matches your situation (salary, business, everyday).
  3. Say your opening line out loud, twice, before the conversation.