What Do I Say? — 25 Scripts for Difficult Manager Conversations

What Do I Say?

25 Scripts for Difficult Manager Conversations

You know you need to have the conversation.

The employee keeps showing up late. Performance isn’t improving. Someone becomes defensive when you give feedback. Two team members can’t get along. Or maybe you were just promoted and you’re suddenly managing people who used to be your peers.

The hardest part isn’t always knowing that you need to address the problem.

It’s figuring out what to actually say.

What Do I Say? is a practical, ready-to-use guide designed to help managers approach uncomfortable workplace conversations with more clarity and confidence.

Inside you’ll get:

✓ 25 real-world manager scenarios

✓ Ready-to-use conversation starters

✓ Examples of what NOT to say

✓ Scripts for responding when an employee pushes back

✓ Guidance for keeping difficult conversations professional

✓ Tips for documenting conversations factually

✓ A simple 5-step conversation framework

✓ Printable Conversation Prep Sheet

Conversations include:

Repeated lateness • Frequent call-offs • Poor performance • Missed deadlines • Repeated mistakes • Defensive employees • Emotional conversations • Negative behavior • Workplace gossip • Disrespect • Coworker conflict • Former peers testing boundaries • Saying no • Compensation requests • Overwhelmed employees • Delegation • Difficult high performers • Serious accountability conversations — and more.

Perfect for:

New managers • First-time supervisors • Team leads • Small-business owners • Experienced managers who want stronger communication tools

No hours of leadership theory.

No complicated corporate jargon.

Just practical language you can pull up before a difficult conversation and think:

“Okay. Now I know what to say.”

Your Purchase Includes:

Instant access to the complete PDF guide

25 difficult-conversation scripts

Conversation framework

Printable preparation worksheet

Digital access you can reference whenever you need it

LeadWell

Practical scripts. Real situations. Stronger leadership.

This guide provides general leadership communication education and is not legal or HR advice. Managers should follow applicable laws, organizational policies, and HR procedures.