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Free agenda template
Difficult Conversations
This template is here to help you have the difficult conversations you dread. A constructive approach that helps managers create room for their reports to be heard and contribute towards a path forward in any situation.
Difficult Conversations
MeetingAction itemsDecisions
Establish the reason for the conversation and the objective. Do you want to give feedback, understand your team member’s points of view, or plan a solution to a problem?
Define is the issue, its impact, and the potential consequences of doing nothing.
Discuss - Listen to what your team member has to say. Why is it important to resolve this situation? What’s at stake if we don’t resolve it? How could you do things differently?
What are some of the actionable takeaways from the conversation? What needs to happen next and who’s responsible for those actions?
How do you feel about how this conversation went?
More 1-on-1s
Peer 1-on-1
What projects are you focused on right now?
Do we have any overlaps where we could collaborate?
How might my team help your team over the next few weeks?
What’s something we could change that would help your team?
What's something I could start doing to make your job easier?
Do you have any positive or constructive feedback about my team?
Peer 1-on-1
As traditional hierarchies become less dominant in organizational structures, lateral support becomes more and more important. This template can help build those bridges as a way to structure conversations between you and a team member, or you and a member of another team.
View template Your First 1-on-1 with a new Team Member
How do you prefer to communicate?
What does your ideal, productive work day look like to you?
Is there anything about your role or the tasks you're working on that needs clarification?
How do you respond to stress, and how do you prefer to be supported?
What’s most important to you in your career?
Is there anything else on your mind you would like to discuss?
Your First 1-on-1 with a new Team Member
Set the right tone and create mutual understanding with your new team member using this 1-on-1 template.
View template New Employee Check-In
How is your onboarding coming?
How’s your experience been working with the team? Can we do anything to improve our team culture?
How could we improve our team’s level of communication/collaboration?
How might we improve our meeting routines?
Is there anything you would like me to do differently regarding our relationship (more or less direction, how I provide feedback, things I should start/stop doing, etc)?
Is there anything I could do as a manager to make your work experience better?
Do you have any feedback for myself or for the team?
Are there any problems or issues that I should know about?
Is there anything else you want to talk about?
New Employee Check-In
Onboarding can be tricky. By using this 1-on-1 template on a weekly basis for the first 2-4 weeks of your new team member joining, you can provide them with the necessary support they need as well as obtain fresh feedback on your onboarding process.
View template