Difficult Conversations

Pre-Work

WATCH
The Speed of Trust – Stephen M.R. Covey (Interview)
HERE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0s7KcDKJo8

READ
The Secrets of Great Teamwork – Harvard Business Review
HERE https://hbr.org/2016/06/the-secrets-of-great-teamwork

DO
Identify one task or decision you could delegate this week: set clear boundaries, explain the purpose, and let the person take ownership.

FBI Framework: Facts – Behavior – Impact

A simple, respectful way to address issues and drive improvement.

Facts – Share objective, observable details without judgment.

Behavior – Describe what was said or done, not the person’s character.

Impact – Explain the effect on people, projects, or outcomes.

By focusing on what happened, what was done, and why it matters, the FBI framework reduces defensiveness, builds trust, and creates a clear path to solutions.

Link to FBI Explained

Dig Deeper: Difficult Conversations

1. Facts – Staying Objective

Article: How to Keep Feedback Objective and Effective – Harvard Business Review

https://hbr.org/2017/02/how-to-give-feedback-people-can-actually-use

Guide: Giving Feedback That Works – MindTools

https://www.mindtools.com/a4wo118/giving-feedback

2. Behavior – Focusing on Actions, Not the Person

Video: How to Give Constructive Feedback in 3 Steps – TED-Ed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtl5UrrgU8c

Article: The Secret to Giving Great Feedback – Forbes

https://www.forbes.com/sites/amyblaschka/2020/01/27/the-secret-to-giving-great-feedback/

3. Impact – Showing Why It Matters

Article: The Right Way to Hold People Accountable – Harvard Business Review

https://hbr.org/2016/01/the-right-way-to-hold-people-accountable

Video: Radical Candor: The Surprising Secret to Being a Good Boss – Kim Scott (Talks at Google)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yODalLQ2lM