Fact before judgment
Start with what was observed. Do not open by assigning motive, attitude, loyalty, or personality.
Free management tool
Difficult Conversation Planner
Turn a vague or emotionally loaded issue into a short preparation brief: observable fact, impact, question, expectation, next step, and follow-up.
Preparation brief
Describe the issue, then build the brief.
Your conversation structure will appear here.
The structure
Question before conclusion
After stating the fact and impact, ask for the other person's perspective. New information can change what the next step should be.
Expectation before threat
State what needs to happen next and how follow-up will work. Escalation should follow real policy and risk, not be used as emotional leverage.