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    Mastering Tough Performance Conversations

    42 min
    |
    |
    Jan 23, 2026
    CommunicationLeadership & Corp Culture

    Learn how to transform dreaded employee feedback sessions into productive dialogues that build trust rather than destroy morale, with practical steps to address performance issues effectively.

    Mastering Tough Performance Conversations

    Best quote from Mastering Tough Performance Conversations

    “

    Avoiding these conversations actually makes things worse; the longer you wait, the more resentment builds. Clarity is kindness, and being vague to spare someone's feelings actually hurts them more in the long run.

    ”
    F

    Generated by Freedee_C77F677D

    Input question

    Hard conversations about employee performance

    Host voices
    Milesplay
    Blytheplay
    Knowledge sources
    A 7-Step Framework for Difficult Employee Conversations ...
    link
    https://www.whirks.com/blog/7-step-framework-for-difficult-employee-conversations
    How to lead effective employee performance conversations
    link
    https://www.bpm.com/insights/employee-performance-conversations/
    Managing Employee Performance
    link
    https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/tools/toolkits/managing-employee-performance
    High-Impact Performance Management
    link
    https://www.aihr.com/courses/performance-management/
    How to Talk to an Employee Who Isn’t Meeting Expectations
    link
    https://s.hbr.org/3ObuQUJ
    Effective Performance Management Best Practices Backed by Research
    link
    https://www.quantumworkplace.com/future-of-work/performance-management-best-practices

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    Part of a Learning Plan

    Give formative feedback as a manager
    LEARNING PLAN

    Give formative feedback as a manager

    6 h 6 m•4 Episodes
    Give formative feedback as a manager in work
    LEARNING PLAN

    Give formative feedback as a manager in work

    5 h 52 m•4 Episodes

    Key Takeaways

    1

    The Feedback Fear Factor

    0:00
    0:11
    0:28
    0:36
    0:48
    0:56
    1:12
    1:20
    2

    The Clarity Imperative

    1:33
    1:39
    1:55
    2:01
    2:16
    0:36
    2:39
    2:45
    3:00
    3:06
    3:26
    3:31
    3:44
    3:48
    4:00
    4:07
    4:21
    4:24
    4:36
    0:36
    4:54
    5:00
    5:14
    5:18
    5:36
    5:43
    5:54
    6:01
    6:13
    6:16
    3

    The Defensive Dance

    6:32
    6:45
    6:57
    7:05
    7:19
    7:22
    7:36
    7:39
    7:53
    0:36
    8:13
    8:18
    8:31
    8:33
    8:48
    8:54
    9:07
    9:11
    9:29
    9:32
    9:46
    9:50
    10:06
    0:36
    4

    The Future Focus Revolution

    10:20
    10:30
    10:42
    10:44
    10:58
    0:36
    11:26
    11:34
    11:49
    3:06
    12:08
    12:13
    12:27
    12:31
    12:45
    12:53
    13:07
    13:11
    13:23
    5:43
    13:40
    13:41
    13:54
    13:58
    5

    The Bias Blind Spot

    14:08
    14:18
    14:35
    14:37
    14:51
    0:36
    15:18
    15:25
    15:41
    11:34
    16:06
    16:12
    16:28
    0:36
    5:59
    16:55
    17:12
    9:32
    17:35
    17:41
    17:56
    17:58
    18:09
    0:36
    6

    The Conversation Architecture

    18:30
    18:40
    18:56
    18:58
    18:58
    19:02
    4:54
    5:43
    19:43
    15:25
    20:01
    20:05
    8:31
    8:33
    20:37
    5:43
    20:52
    20:58
    21:13
    0:36
    21:31
    21:35
    21:46
    5:43
    22:07
    20:58
    22:26
    0:36
    7

    The Emotional Rollercoaster

    22:37
    22:51
    23:03
    0:36
    23:18
    23:23
    23:38
    5:43
    23:56
    24:00
    24:11
    15:25
    24:29
    24:34
    24:46
    24:48
    24:59
    25:00
    25:15
    5:43
    25:31
    25:37
    25:47
    25:51
    26:04
    26:08
    26:18
    5:43
    8

    The Trust-Building Paradox

    26:35
    26:49
    27:04
    27:10
    27:24
    27:25
    27:39
    0:36
    27:57
    28:01
    28:12
    20:58
    28:27
    28:32
    28:43
    0:36
    29:00
    20:58
    29:17
    29:19
    29:31
    5:43
    29:52
    30:00
    30:14
    20:58
    30:27
    30:32
    30:44
    5:43
    9

    Your Performance Conversation Playbook

    31:03
    9:32
    31:28
    31:31
    31:45
    0:36
    32:01
    32:02
    32:16
    20:58
    32:34
    32:37
    32:51
    5:43
    33:08
    20:58
    33:23
    33:27
    33:40
    33:44
    33:55
    33:58
    34:10
    5:43
    34:23
    34:26
    34:40
    34:42
    34:50
    34:53
    35:06
    35:13
    35:28
    9:32
    35:44
    35:49
    36:02
    36:07
    10

    The Ripple Effect

    36:26
    36:38
    27:24
    36:54
    37:06
    0:36
    4:54
    20:58
    37:45
    0:36
    38:03
    38:04
    38:17
    15:25
    38:32
    34:26
    38:48
    38:54
    39:05
    39:10
    39:22
    20:58
    39:40
    0:36
    39:53
    20:58
    40:06
    40:10
    40:23
    5:43
    40:38
    40:43
    40:52
    40:57
    41:11
    41:12
    41:24
    0:36
    41:41
    41:51
    42:02
    42:13
    42:27
    42:37

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