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 Give and Receive Critical Feedback

https://hbr.org/2023/06/how-to-give-and-receive-critical-feedback

Video: The Secret to Giving Feedback, David Burkus

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcADyo8bGGA&t=184s

2. Behavior – Focusing on Actions, Not the Person

Focus on the Issue, Situation or Behavior, Not the Person:” How a Zenger Miller Basic Principle Informs Consequential Communication (Medium)

https://medium.com/@dpmoeg/focus-on-the-issue-situation-or-behavior-not-the-person-how-a-zenger-miller-basic-principle-414ef174abff

Podcast (with transcript): The Secret to Giving Great Feedback (HBR)

https://hbr.org/podcast/2023/09/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