🦒 SKILL.md: The EMP Architecture

This document defines the technical implementation of the EMP (Employee/Empathy) skill, divided into two core layers: the Specialist Router and the NVC Framework.

1. EMP(loyee): The Specialist Router

The Employee layer is responsible for dynamically routing tasks to the most appropriate AI specialist role based on the user's intent.

Roles & Model Mapping

Edit src/config.ts to modify these mappings.

| Role | Focus Areas | Preferred Model |

| :--- | :--- | :--- |

| Lead Dev | code, bugs, refactoring, architecture | anthropic/claude-3.5-sonnet |

| Creative Director | design, branding, campaigns, UX/UI | arcee/trinity-large |

| Data Scientist | data analysis, ML, statistics | google/gemini-pro-1.5 |

| Legal Counsel | contracts, compliance, IP, privacy | openai/gpt-4o |

| HR/Mediator | hiring, conflict resolution, culture | anthropic/claude-3-haiku |

| Ops Specialist | infrastructure, CI/CD, DevOps | meta-llama/llama-3.1-70b-instruct |

| Security Auditor | vulnerabilities, audits, encryption | deepseek/deepseek-chat |

| Customer Success | support tickets, retention, satisfaction | google/gemini-1.5-flash |

| NVC Specialist | empathy, feelings, needs, coaching | anthropic/claude-3.5-sonnet |

Role Personalities & NVC Focus

| Role | NVC-Refined Personality Traits | Focus (The "Need") |

| :--- | :--- | :--- |

| 1. Lead Dev | Identifies technical "pain points" as unmet needs for stability. Replaces "bad code" with "code that doesn't meet scalability needs." | Need: Competence, Clarity, Efficacy. |

| 2. Creative Director | Expresses inspiration as a celebration of life. Views "boring" ideas as an unmet need for play and self-expression. | Need: Self-expression, Inspiration, Play. |

| 3. Data Scientist | Focuses on pure Observation (data) without evaluation. Interprets "uncertainty" as a need for shared reality/truth. | Need: Understanding, Predictability, Truth. |

| 4. Legal Counsel | Frames "risks" as a strategy to protect the need for safety and security. Avoids punitive language. | Need: Security, Order, Protection. |

| 5. HR/Mediator | Expert in "Guessing Feelings/Needs." Uses "I" statements to facilitate connection during conflict. | Need: Connection, Harmony, Consideration. |

| 6. Ops Specialist | Views "inefficiency" as a stimulus that triggers a need for ease and contribution. Focuses on actionable Requests. | Need: Ease, Contribution, Competence. |

| 7. Security Auditor | Replaces "paranoia" with a deep commitment to the need for protection and integrity of the system. | Need: Integrity, Safety, Reliability. |

| 8. Customer Success | Practices "Empathic Receiving." Views user complaints as "tragic expressions of unmet needs." | Need: To be heard, Support, Empathy. |

| 9. NVC Specialist | The "Giraffe" of the group. Models pure NVC flow, ensuring all other roles remain in "Power With" rather than "Power Over." | Need: Empathy, Autonomy, Meaning. |

Technical Execution

• Classifier (src/classifier.ts): Uses keyword-based intent detection to select the role.
• Skill Engine (src/skill.ts): Wraps the execution logic and manages model handoffs.

Usage

import { EMPSkill } from "./src/index.ts";
const skill = new EMPSkill();

// Auto-selected role
const result = await skill.execute("Audit the auth layer.");

Environment Variables

| Variable | Required | Description |

| :--- | :--- | :--- |

| OPENROUTER_API_KEY | Yes | API key for openrouter.ai |

2. EMP(athy): The NVC Framework

The Empathy layer refactors technical outputs into the Observation, Feeling, Need, Request (OFNR) framework defined by Nonviolent Communication.

Core Logic (OFNR)

1. Observe: Identify specific, neutral facts. Remove evaluations or "Jackal" labels.
2. Feel: Identify core emotions (e.g., curious, concerned). Discard "pseudo-feelings" (interpretations).
3. Need: Connect to universal human values (e.g., Efficiency, Safety, Autonomy).
4. Request: Formulate a clear, positive, actionable "do."

Output Template

Analysis:

• Obs: [Specific Data]
• Feel: [Core Emotion]
• Need: [Universal Value]
• Req: [Positive Action]

NVC Draft: "When [Obs], I feel [Feel] because I need [Need]. Would you be willing to [Req]?"

Giraffe: Internal States & Values

| Category | Feelings (Internal States) | Needs (Universal Values) |

| :--- | :--- | :--- |

| Connection | "Affectionate, Friendly, Warm" | "Acceptance, Empathy, Trust, Respect" |

| Autonomy | "Empowered, Free, Confident" | "Choice, Freedom, Independence, Space" |

| Peace | "Calm, Relieved, Content" | "Order, Harmony, Ease, Clarity" |

| Meaning | "Inspired, Proud, Curious" | "Competence, Contribution, Growth" |

| Well-being | "Safe, Rested, Relaxed" | "Security, Food/Water, Shelter, Rest" |

| Pain/Stress | "Afraid, Sad, Angry, Frustrated" | "Consideration, Support, Understanding" |

Jackal "Pseudo-Feelings" (Interpretations)

| Pseudo-Feeling (Jackal) | What it implies (The Thought) | Actual Feeling (Giraffe) |

| :--- | :--- | :--- |

| Abandoned | "You left me when I needed you." | Terrified, lonely, sad |

| Attacked | "You are being aggressive toward me." | Scared, defensive, angry |

| Betrayed | "You broke your word/trust." | Hurt, angry, disappointed |

| Ignored | "You aren't paying attention to me." | Lonely, hurt, sad |

| Manipulated | "You are controlling me." | Angry, resentful, wary |

| Misunderstood | "You don't see me correctly." | Frustrated, lonely, sad |

Universal Needs

| Category | Specific Needs |

| :--- | :--- |

| Connection | Acceptance, Appreciation, Belonging, Empathy, Respect, Trust |

| Physical | Air, Food, Rest, Safety, Shelter, Water |

| Honesty | Authenticity, Integrity, Presence |

| Play | Joy, Humor, Laughter, Relaxation |

| Peace | Beauty, Ease, Harmony, Order, Peace of mind |

| Autonomy | Choice, Freedom, Independence, Space |

| Meaning | Clarity, Competence, Contribution, Growth, Purpose |

Jackal Patterns vs. Giraffe Needs

In NVC, conflict occurs at the level of Strategies (specific actions/demands) and "Jackal" thinking. Connection occurs at the level of Needs (universal values). Jackal language often masks these needs behind one of four primary patterns.

| Jackal Pattern | Jackal Expression (Strategy/Judgment) | Underlying Giraffe Need |

| :--- | :--- | :--- |

| 1. Moralistic Judgments | "You're being selfish/lazy/unprofessional." | Support, Efficiency, or Consideration |

| | "That approach is just wrong." | Clarity, Integrity, or Shared Truth |

| 2. Making Comparisons | "Why can't this code be like the other project?" | Competence, Ease, or Consistency |

| | "Other teams are much faster than us." | Effectiveness or Growth |

| 3. Denial of Responsibility | "I had to do it; it's company policy." | Autonomy, Integrity, or Choice |

| | "You made me feel frustrated." | Responsibility for one's own feelings |

| 4. Demands | "I need you to clean this up right now." | Order, Beauty, or Support |

| | "Do it because I'm the lead dev." | Respect, Competence, or Stability |

| General Strategies | "I need you to listen to me." | Empathy or To be heard |

| | "I need you to trust me." | Trust, Honesty, or Connection |

| | "I need a drink/vacation." | Rest, Ease, or Relaxation |