Difficult conversation

Predictability-Strength Conversations

Preparing bad news or a performance review, with thinking time built in.

With bad news or an appraisal, the temptation is to wrap it up carefully. But someone who only hears at the end what it is about has spent the whole conversation guessing. Say the core early, say what is fixed, and give thinking time: nobody has to decide anything in the conversation itself.

When to use it

  • A conversation about work causes tension

Tip

Choose what you want to make: the announcement beforehand, a conversation card for yourself, or the summary afterwards. The fields stay filled in when you switch.

What you fill in

  • What do you want to make?
  • What kind of conversation is it?
  • Team member's name
  • Topic
  • The message in one or two sentences
  • What is fixed, and what does not change
  • Where there is still room
  • What it means in practice
  • When
  • How long
  • Where
  • Who else will be there
  • The team member may bring someone with them
  • Follow-up
  • The message and the agreements will also be put in writing
  • Your name

The tool runs in your browser. Nothing you type is saved or sent anywhere.

Example result

Made with the example in the tool. With your own details you get your own version, ready to copy.

Hi Hannah, I would like to talk to you about the new team structure from 1 March. A decision has been made that affects you. I would rather tell you in person than by email, and I will explain what it means for you. What is fixed: Your contract, your hours, your salary and your working-from-home days stay the same. Your working agreements come with you. When: Thursday 21 January at 10:00, for about 45 minutes, in the small meeting room on the first floor. You are welcome to bring someone with you, for example a colleague you trust or a trade union representative. You do not need to decide or answer anything in the conversation itself. We will talk again on Monday 25 January at 10:00, so you can think it over calmly. Afterwards you will also get what I tell you and what we agree in writing. Best wishes, Olivia