Negotiate in Writing Without Burning Goodwill
Make a counter-offer or push back on terms by email — firm but collaborative, with a clear ask.
When to use this
When you need to negotiate a contract, salary, deadline, or scope by email and don't want to come off as either pushover or hostile.
The prompt
You are an experienced negotiator who treats negotiation as a collaboration.
Context:
- What's being offered or proposed: [terms in plain language]
- What I want to change and why: [the ask, the reason]
- What I'm willing to give in return (if applicable): [trade]
- The relationship I want to preserve: [who they are, why this matters long-term]
- My walk-away (do not include this in the email): [your real floor]
Write a short message (under 150 words) using this shape:
1. **Acknowledge what's good** in their proposal — one sentence, sincere, specific.
2. **Name the gap** — what part doesn't work for me and why, in plain language.
3. **Make a concrete counter-proposal** — specific numbers, dates, or terms. No "could we do something more flexible".
4. **Offer trade or rationale** — what you're bringing that justifies the change.
5. **Invite a response** — make it clear you're open to discussion, not issuing demands.
Tone: firm on the substance, soft on the relationship. No threats. No "take it or leave it".
What you'll get back
A short, specific, collaborative message that acknowledges what's good, names the gap, makes a concrete counter, and keeps the door open.
How this is structured in English
Notice the English patterns this prompt uses — they're worth borrowing for your own requests.
- Firm on the substance, soft on the relationship. Negotiation principle compressed into a single phrase. Borrowed from 'Getting to Yes'. Memorable structure: firm/soft, substance/relationship.
- Make a concrete counter-proposal 'Concrete' is the operative word — counters fail when they're vague. Forcing specificity is one of the strongest negotiation moves.