Guides
Feedback & Difficult Conversations
20 free guides in this category.
Guides in this category.
Addressing Microaggressions
Strategies for responding to subtle biased comments in ways that reduce harm while creating opportunities for learning and repair.
Read guideAgreements, Notes, and Follow-Up
Turning feedback conversations into lasting change through clear commitments and documented next steps.
Read guideCommunicating When Stressed
Learn the process of how stress hijacks your conversations and the steps to regain control for clearer communication.
Read guideConflict De-escalation Microskills
Small, learnable communication behaviors that reduce tension during conflicts and help guide heated conversations toward resolution.
Read guideCross-Cultural Feedback Styles
Cultural norms profoundly shape how people give and receive feedback, influencing everything from directness to the balance of praise and criticism.
Read guideRemote/Async Feedback
The strategies and principles for delivering effective feedback across distributed, time-delayed communication channels where nonverbal cues are limited.
Read guideFeedback Using SBI Model
Use the Situation–Behavior–Impact (SBI) model to give clear, specific feedback that reduces defensiveness and increases learning.
Read guideGiving Feedback Up the Chain
The art of sharing constructive insights with those above you in a hierarchy—turning top-down power dynamics into two-way communication that helps everyone perform better.
Read guideHandling Defensiveness
Practical techniques for recognizing and managing defensive reactions during difficult conversations to keep dialogue productive.
Read guideHigh-Impact Questions & Curiosity
Strategic questions that spark insight, reveal assumptions, and unlock collaborative solutions in challenging conversations.
Read guideIntent vs Impact
Understanding the gap between what we mean and how our actions affect others is key to resolving conflict and building stronger relationships.
Read guideLadder of Inference
A mental model showing how we rapidly climb from observation to conviction, filtering reality through assumptions and often missing critical information.
Read guideMediating Between Others' Conflict
Helping others resolve disputes through neutral facilitation, active listening, and interest-based problem-solving.
Read guideNonviolent Communication (OFNR)
A four-step method for communicating more effectively and empathically by separating observation from evaluation.
Read guidePlanning Difficult Conversations
Structured preparation before challenging dialogues reduces reactivity, improves outcomes, and helps you stay focused on what actually matters.
Read guidePreparing for a Difficult Conversation
A structured approach to clarify your goals, understand the other person's perspective, and manage emotions before a high-stakes talk.
Read guidePsychological Safety in 1:1s
Creating an environment where people feel safe to speak openly during one-on-one meetings enables honest feedback, growth conversations, and stronger manager-employee relationships.
Read guideFeedback Purpose & Mindset
Feedback is most powerful when viewed as information for growth rather than judgment of worth—a mindset shift that transforms criticism into opportunity.
Read guideReceiving Feedback
The art of listening to, processing, and learning from criticism without becoming defensive.
Read guideSituation-Behavior-Impact
A three-step feedback framework that structures feedback around specific context, observable actions, and concrete consequences to reduce defensiveness and improve behavior change.
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