Never Split Difference

This one teaches you Chris Voss's FBI hostage negotiation tactics for business situations. You get the actual techniques: mirroring (repeat their last few words to build rapport), labeling emotions to defuse them, calibrated questions that guide without commanding, and the Ackerman model for systematic price negotiation. It walks through nine specific methods with examples and then gives you playbooks for common scenarios like price objections and difficult conversations. Honestly, it's comprehensive enough that you could prep for a real negotiation or client conflict without reading the book. Best for high stakes deals, tough vendor conversations, or any time standard sales tactics aren't cutting it.

skills.sh installs: 266
GitHub stars: 150
last updated: Aug 21, 2026

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Install

$ npx -y skills add guia-matthieu/clawfu-skills --skill never-split-difference --agent claude-code

Installs into .claude/skills of the current project.

Files

Never Split the Difference

Master FBI hostage negotiation techniques adapted for business. Apply Chris Voss' proven methods to close deals, handle objections, and negotiate from a position of strength.

When to Use This Skill

High-stakes negotiations where outcomes matter significantly
Difficult conversations with clients, vendors, or partners
Price negotiations when you need to hold firm
Conflict resolution between team members or stakeholders
Sales objections that standard techniques don't resolve
Contract negotiations with enterprise clients

Methodology Foundation

Aspect	Details
Source	Chris Voss - Never Split the Difference (2016)
Core Principle	"Negotiation is not about winning. It's about discovering the other side's world and using that to get what you need."
Why This Matters	Traditional negotiation teaches compromise. FBI techniques show that understanding emotions and tactical empathy create better outcomes for everyone.