{"id":"lead-hard-conversation-opening-script","audience":"managers","category":"leadership-work","track":"leadership","level":"advanced","technique":"tone","title":"Script the first 60 seconds of a hard conversation, flagged for HR","free":false,"task":"You must tell a team member, Jamal, that his scope is changing because a client project was cancelled. Write what you will say aloud in the first minute: plain text, 5 short sentences, under 100 words. Sentence 1 names the purpose. Include one sentence that invites his reaction. Do not blame him, promise a future role, or mention pay, and end with a separate final line: HR to review before the conversation. Use only the notes.","materialLabel":"Your prep notes (attached to your prompt automatically)","material":"Prep for Jamal conversation (Thursday 10 am)\n\nFacts:\n- The Harbor Bank dashboard project was cancelled by the client on Oct 30. Not related to Jamal's work; client budget cut.\n- Jamal was the lead on it for 5 months.\n- From Nov 11 he moves to the internal reporting tools backlog, same title, same manager (me).\n- Confirmed: no change to his pay or title.\n\nNot decided / not mine to say:\n- Whether there will be a lead role on the new Fenwick project in Q1. Director has not decided.\n- Rumor that two contractors will be let go.\n\nWhat worries me: last time I delivered news like this I rambled and opened with a long apology.\nJamal usually likes to know the plan, and gets quiet when surprised.","rules":[{"type":"maxWords","max":100},{"type":"plainText"}],"mistakes":[{"title":"Opening with an apology","why":"The AI starts with 'I'm so sorry to have to tell you'.","fix":"Say: \"Sentence 1 names the purpose plainly. No apology opener.\"","checks":["r0"]},{"title":"Promising what isn't decided","why":"The AI softens the news by hinting at the Fenwick lead role.","fix":"Say: \"Do not mention the Fenwick role; it is undecided.\"","checks":["r2"]},{"title":"Skipping the invite","why":"The AI delivers a monologue and never asks for his reaction.","fix":"Say: \"Include one sentence inviting his reaction.\"","checks":["r1"]},{"title":"Markdown and stage directions","why":"The AI adds bold headings and [pause] notes.","fix":"Say: \"Plain text, spoken sentences only.\"","checks":["plainText"]},{"title":"Trusting the AI to count words","why":"AI is bad at counting. Ask for a total word limit and it often lands over it.","fix":"Cap each sentence: \"each sentence under 18 words.\"","checks":["maxWords"]},{"title":"Trusting the AI to count words","why":"AI is bad at counting. Ask for a total word limit and it often lands over it.","fix":"Cap each part instead, for example: \"each line under 12 words.\"","checks":["maxWords"]}],"promptHints":[{"label":"Says it's spoken","patterns":["say aloud","spoken","script","read aloud"]},{"label":"Names the purpose first","patterns":["purpose","sentence 1","first sentence","open"]},{"label":"Invites a reaction","patterns":["invite","react","ask (him|for)","his reaction"]},{"label":"Says what to avoid","patterns":["do not","don'?t","avoid","no promises"]},{"label":"Adds the HR flag","patterns":["hr","review"]}],"hint":"Tell the AI the structure of the five sentences, what to avoid promising, and the exact final flag line.","rubricLabels":["The first sentence states the purpose: his work is changing because the Harbor Bank project was cancelled by the client, and it says the cancellation was not about his work","Includes a sentence moving him to the internal reporting tools backlog from Nov 11 and a separate sentence inviting his reaction","Does not promise a lead role on Fenwick, does not mention pay or contractors, and ends with the separate line \"HR to review before the conversation\""]}