DIFFICULT CONVERSATION PREP SHEET

Before the conversation:
- What specific behavior, miss, or pattern needs to be addressed?
- What facts do I have, and what assumptions do I need to leave out?
- What standard was expected?
- Why does this issue matter to the team, customer, or operation?

What I need to say clearly:
- Here is the issue:
- Here is the impact:
- Here is the standard:
- Here is what needs to change next:

What I want to avoid:
- Making it personal
- Bringing up five other issues at once
- Talking around the problem instead of naming it
- Taking over all of the ownership myself

Questions to ask:
- How are you seeing it?
- What got in the way?
- What needs to happen differently next time?
- What support or clarity do you need?

Close the conversation with:
- The agreed next step
- The follow-up date
- The consequence or accountability point if the issue repeats

Clarity early is kinder than frustration late.