Communication
Difficult Conversation Preparation Grid
A client needs to prepare for a specific conversation where they anticipate conflict or high emotion.
Your client is preparing for a conversation they know will be tense. Whether it’s with a boss, a partner, or an employee, their thinking is often circular, dominated by anxiety and a fixation on potential negative responses. Without a clear plan, they risk entering the discussion either emotionally flooded or so defensive that their core message is lost.
This directive shifts the client’s focus from reactive worry to methodical preparation. It systematically separates their primary objectives from their emotional forecasts and clarifies the essential points they need to communicate. The client leaves with a coherent map for the conversation, grounding them in their own goals regardless of how the other person responds.
Difficult Conversation Preparation Grid
Identify a specific conversation you need to have. Write the person’s name and the topic below. Then fill in the four columns of the grid. Write from your own perspective in the first two columns. For the last two columns, write what you assume to be their perspective.
Conversation with: Topic:
| My Ideal Outcome | My Core Fear | Their Likely Ideal Outcome | Their Likely Core Fear |
|---|---|---|---|
Generated with Rapport7 — rapport7.com