Free resource
You have a conversation coming and you know what you need to address. You’re less sure how to say it. This one-page prep sheet helps you get clear before you walk into the room.
You don’t need a script. You need to know what you’re trying to accomplish, what you might be getting wrong, and how to start. Fill this in before the conversation, not during it.
What do I need them to understand by the end? One or two sentences, in plain language.
Why does it matter? To them, to the team, to the work.
What have I actually seen or heard? Specific examples, not labels.
What am I assuming? About why it’s happening, how they’ll react, or what they already know.
What might I not know yet? What could have changed for them?
How do they usually like to receive things? Direct or with context? Big picture or detail? In the moment, or time to think it through?
What’s my default, and where might it clash with theirs?
My first sentence. Write it out. Say it out loud once.
The question I’ll ask, then stop talking.
What I’ll say if it gets emotional or defensive.
What does clarity look like at the end? What will we both know that we didn’t before?
Next steps. Who will do what, by when? How will we follow up?
After the conversation: What went the way you expected? What surprised you? What would you do differently next time?
Something landed on your desk and you’re not sure whether it’s yours to handle or something to take upstairs. This one-page worksheet helps you think it through before you ask, so you either own it with confidence or escalate with a clear ask.
There’s a conversation you’ve been putting off, or one you know is coming and can’t avoid. This field guide helps you prepare, start, stay steady in the middle, and follow through after.
You need something from someone above you: a decision, a deliverable, support, or the chance to disagree. This toolkit helps you ask clearly, push back respectfully, and build a working relationship that can handle both.