Finally. The exact words for the conversations you've been dreading.

I've Been Exactly Where You Are

When I was 25, I was promoted early into a management role.

I was good at my job. I was capable. I wanted the title, the responsibility, and the step up.

What I wasn't prepared for was the conversation I had to have with a team member about sexual harassment in my first few months.

Or the one where I had to tell someone their work wasn't meeting expectations, and watch them completely shut down.

Or the one where I had to hold a boundary with someone twice my age who didn't think I should be their boss.

I handled some of those conversations badly. I said too little. Or too much. Or nothing at all and let things fester until they got worse.

Not because I didn't care. Because I didn't have the words.

I have spent decades since then studying organizational communication (yes, I have a PhD in it), coaching leaders, and helping technical managers navigate exactly these moments. I've seen what works and what doesn't. Not in theory, but in real rooms with real stakes. 

This script pack is what I wished I'd had when I was newly promoted at 25.

Not a textbook. Not a workshop. Not a framework you have to interpret on the fly.

Just the actual words, organized for the actual moments.

Introducing: The Hard Conversation Starter Script Pack

22 ready-to-use scripts for the moments that matter most, built specifically for technical managers.

This 15-page PDF is your quiet confidence in the moments when the pressure is high and the right words don't come naturally.

No fluff. No filler. Just structure you can use before your next hard conversation.

Here's What's Inside

• Section 1: Opening the Conversation (4 scripts)
  Set the right tone from the first sentence. Start strong without apologizing, hedging, or making things worse before they begin.

• Section 2: Naming the Issue Clearly (4 scripts)
  Describe what you're seeing in facts, not feelings, and explain why it matters without making it personal. 

• Section 3: When the Conversation Gets Uncomfortable (4 scripts)
  They get defensive. They minimize. They get emotional. You don't have an answer yet. Here's what to say in each of those moments.

• Section 4: Setting Expectations and Boundaries (3 scripts)
  Be clear about what you need going forward without over-explaining, over-apologizing, or accidentally opening a debate.
  

• Section 5: Closing the Conversation (4 scripts)
  End with clarity, accountability, and specific next steps, not just "let's see how it goes."

• Section 6: After the Conversation (3 scripts)
  Follow-up emails, documentation, and exactly what to say if the issue comes back around.

Every script includes: 

• When to use it 

• The exact language

• Why it works

• Common pitfalls to avoid

These aren't scripts to memorize word for word. They're structural supports. Think of it as language you can lean on when clarity matters and pressure is high. Adapt them to your own voice. Use them as a starting point. That's what they're designed for.

This is for you if ... 

• You're in your first 12 months as a manager (or you're still uncomfortable with those conversations)

•  You were promoted for your technical skills and the people side caught you off guard

• You avoid certain conversations because you're not sure what to say

• You've said the wrong thing and spent the next 48 hours replaying it

• You want to handle these situations well and you'd rather not broadcast the fact that you're still figuring it out