This step-by-step planning guide helps you prepare for any difficult conversation.

Difficult conversations feel heavy because most people don’t know how to prepare. We could say the wrong thing, get emotional, or make the situation worse.

Planning out the conversation ahead of time keeps you focused, organized and calm. It's useful for addressing performance concerns, sensitive feedback and managing conflict.

This planner was designed for:

• New managers or supervisors who want to build and maintain good relationships through touch talks
• Experienced leaders who want to fine-tune their approach
• HR partners who support those managers and leaders
• Anyone who needs to talk through tough issues at work.

Step-by-step guide to:

• Set the goal for the conversation
• Plan the right words to open the conversation (can sometimes be the hardest part)
• Anticipate the person's reactions
• Structure the conversation from start to finish

This planner saves you time, reduces stress, and helps you enter hard conversations with a calm, clear plan.