EMP

EMP Skill for OpenClaw – empathetic, role-based task routing

🦒 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

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