Field guide

Difficult Conversations Field Guide

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.

Most difficult conversations aren’t difficult because we don’t know what to say. They’re difficult because we’re not sure how it will land, what the other person will do, or what happens next.

This field guide is being built for those moments. It’s practical, it’s short enough to use the night before, and it won’t hand you a script to read from.

What it will include

  • A prep process for getting clear on what you need them to understand, what you’re assuming, and what you might not know yet.
  • Opening lines for the first thirty seconds, which are usually the hardest part.
  • What to do in the middle when the conversation goes somewhere you didn’t expect: defensiveness, tears, silence, or “that’s not fair.”
  • Adapt It guidance for different preferences, so you can adjust your delivery without changing your message.
  • A Clarity Check for the end of the conversation, so both of you leave knowing what happens next.
  • Follow-through and reflection prompts for the days after, when most conversations either stick or quietly fade.

Who it’s for

Managers, HR professionals, and emerging leaders who have conversations about performance, behavior, expectations, or change, and who want to handle them with both honesty and dignity.

Join the waitlist and you’ll hear first when it’s ready.

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