Negotiating for Creative Entrepreneurs

Course overview

This course introduces negotiation for creative professionals and provides practical tools for building stronger client relationships and achieving better outcomes. You will explore client psychology and learn how to build trust through tactical empathy, including techniques such as active listening, labeling, and mirroring.

The course covers effective questioning strategies to uncover client needs, as well as how to use accusation audits to anticipate and address objections. You will also learn how storytelling can be used to communicate value, and how body language, tone, and speech patterns influence negotiation success.

In addition, you will develop strategies for handling rejection and turning “no” into opportunity, while learning to identify and use hidden opportunities, or “black swans,” in negotiations. The course includes role-playing exercises to practice real-life scenarios and concludes with a final simulated negotiation project.

Who is this programme for

This programme is designed for creative professionals and entrepreneurs who want to strengthen their negotiation skills in client-facing situations. It is suitable for those working in creative industries or managing projects where communication, collaboration, and value-based discussions are essential.

No prior knowledge of communication principles or experience in creative projects is required, although such background can be helpful. Familiarity with client interactions or presenting creative work may also support your learning, but the programme is equally accessible to those looking to build these skills from the ground up.

What you will learn

In this course, you will gain a solid understanding of the fundamental principles of negotiation, including collaboration and tactical empathy. You will also explore advanced techniques such as calibrated questions, accusation audits, and strategies for handling objections, while developing insight into client psychology through tone, body language, and communication patterns.

You will learn to apply practical negotiation strategies to build trust, secure favorable agreements, and conduct effective client conversations that uncover needs and resolve concerns.

The course also helps you develop a professional mindset grounded in curiosity, empathy, resilience, and adaptability. You will strengthen your ability to reflect on outcomes, improve future negotiations, and communicate effectively across different cultural and situational contexts while supporting both creative problem-solving and long-term professional growth.

Study format and schedule

Study flexibly from anywhere, this course is delivered entirely online. 

The programme will start in autumn 2026, and the exact timetable will be announced at a later date.

Application

Our application period will open in May 2026.