Frequently Asked Prompts

One of my team members consistently misses deadlines. I have raised it informally several times, but nothing has changed. I am becoming frustrated and worry I will lose my temper. How should I structure the conversation so that I am firm about the performance issue without making the employee defensive?

A colleague and I strongly disagree about how an important project should proceed. Our last two conversations became increasingly tense and I feel we are both now trying to prove the other person wrong. How can I reset the conversation and get us back to constructive dialogue?

I need to tell a senior colleague that their behaviour in meetings is intimidating junior members of the team. They are powerful, confident and not particularly receptive to criticism. How should I approach this conversation while protecting both the relationship and my position?

A stakeholder has accused my team of causing a major project delay. I believe their own team is largely responsible and I have evidence to support this. I don't want the meeting to become a blame game. How should I handle the conversation?

A discussion with a colleague has already become heated. They are speaking aggressively, interrupting me and clearly becoming emotional. I can feel myself becoming defensive as well. What should I do and say right now to prevent the conversation escalating further?

I have a talented employee who produces excellent work but regularly dismisses other people's ideas and dominates meetings. I want them to understand that their behaviour is limiting their leadership potential without making them feel that their contribution isn't valued. How should I deliver this feedback?

One of my employees believes they deserve a promotion, but I don't think they are ready. They are likely to be extremely disappointed and may interpret the decision as evidence that I don't value them. How should I conduct the conversation?

I have recently taken over an established team and several members appear suspicious of me. They are polite but guarded and contribute very little in meetings. What communication techniques can I use over the next few weeks to establish trust and encourage greater openness?

A normally excellent employee has made a significant mistake that has cost the business money. I need to address what happened while ensuring they continue to feel confident enough to admit mistakes and problems in the future. How should I approach the conversation?

My team rarely challenges me in meetings. I am concerned they simply agree because I am the boss rather than because they genuinely support my decisions. How can I change the way I communicate so people feel safe disagreeing with me?

I need approval from our CEO for a project that will require significant investment today but should create substantial long-term benefits. The CEO is highly focused on short-term profitability. How should I frame the proposal to increase my chances of gaining support?

A senior stakeholder keeps rejecting my recommendations by focusing on relatively minor implementation details. I believe we agree on the overall objective but keep getting stuck debating tactics. How can I change the level of the conversation and rebuild agreement?

I need to persuade another department to dedicate resources to my project, but they have their own priorities and receive no direct benefit from helping me. How should I position my request so that it becomes relevant to their objectives rather than simply mine?

I am presenting an unpopular change to the executive committee. Several members already have negative perceptions of the proposal before hearing the details. How can I structure and frame my presentation to influence how they evaluate the recommendation?

My boss has already publicly supported a different strategy from the one I now want to recommend. How can I influence them to reconsider without making them feel that accepting my recommendation means admitting they were wrong?

A prospective client has told me our proposal is too expensive. I don't want to immediately discount because I believe our solution offers substantially more value than the cheaper competitors they are comparing us with. How should I respond?

I have a first meeting with a potentially important client who knows very little about me or my company. What should I pay attention to during the first ten minutes to build rapport and increase the likelihood of developing the relationship?

A long-standing client has started using one of our competitors and our share of their business is declining. I want to understand why without sounding defensive or putting them under pressure. How should I conduct the conversation?

I am presenting three different service packages to a client. I would ideally like them to select the middle option. How should I sequence and position the alternatives so they can make an informed decision while making the relative value of the middle option clear?

A potential customer likes our product but says, “Changing supplier is too risky.” How could I respond using techniques from Communication Advantage rather than simply arguing that our product is better?

I am negotiating my salary for a new job. The employer has offered 15% less than I expected but says they have reached the top of their range. I want the job but don't want to accept too quickly. How should I structure my response?

A client is demanding a 20% reduction in our fees and says a competitor will do the work for less. I have some flexibility but don't want the negotiation to become purely about price. How should I redirect the conversation?

I am negotiating with someone who repeatedly says, “That's our final offer.” I don't know whether this is genuinely their limit or simply a negotiating position. How can I test their position without becoming confrontational?

A supplier and I are deadlocked over price. Neither side appears willing to move, although we both want the relationship to continue. How can I move the discussion away from competing positions and find possible areas of agreement?

The other side in a negotiation has rejected my proposal as “completely unrealistic.” My instinct is to defend it immediately. What communication techniques could I use instead to understand their objection and keep them open to my proposal?

Our leadership meetings are dominated by three outspoken people while several quieter executives rarely contribute. I suspect valuable opinions are being withheld. How can I change the communication dynamic so everyone contributes without embarrassing the quieter participants?

Our meetings frequently disappear down irrelevant rabbit holes and run over time. People become frustrated when I try to bring the conversation back to the agenda. How can I establish a communication process that allows me to challenge relevance without appearing dismissive?

Two departments need to collaborate on a project but each believes the other is responsible for previous failures. Meetings quickly turn into discussions about what happened in the past. How can I redirect them towards a shared objective?

My team appears to agree with decisions during meetings but afterwards people complain privately and sometimes fail to implement what was agreed. How can I create an environment where disagreement happens openly in the meeting instead?

A project meeting is becoming increasingly tense. People are interrupting each other and defending their departments rather than solving the problem. As meeting leader, what should I say and do to move everyone back towards collaboration?

I work with colleagues from several different cultures. Some communicate very directly while others rarely openly disagree. This is causing misunderstandings and frustration. How can I adapt my communication without relying on cultural stereotypes?

The finance team keeps rejecting proposals from the commercial team because they see them as financially irresponsible. Commercial thinks finance doesn't understand customers. I need both groups to work together. How could I facilitate a conversation between them?

I have a stakeholder who communicates in a very different style from me. I am informal and relationship-oriented while they are formal, detailed and task-focused. How can I adapt to them without appearing artificial?

My regional team believes headquarters doesn't listen to them, while headquarters believes the regional team resists every corporate initiative. I have been asked to facilitate a meeting between them. Which Communication Advantage techniques should I use?

A colleague's communication style feels abrupt and disrespectful to me, but I am not sure whether this reflects their intention, personality, culture or simply my interpretation. How should I address the issue without making assumptions?

I want to ask my boss for a promotion. I believe I have performed strongly, but the company is currently under cost pressure. How should I frame the conversation so it focuses on my contribution and future value rather than simply what I want?

I have been offered another job and am considering leaving. My current employer may make a counteroffer. I want to preserve the relationship regardless of what I decide. How should I communicate my position?

My relationship with my manager has deteriorated. I increasingly interpret their comments negatively and suspect they also view me negatively. How can I reset the relationship rather than allowing these perceptions to become entrenched?

A colleague regularly takes credit for ideas that I have contributed. I am becoming increasingly resentful but have never challenged them directly. How can I raise this without turning it into a personal accusation?

I have just joined a new organisation in a senior role. I need to build relationships and credibility quickly with people who know much more about the company than I do. What should my communication priorities be during my first month?

I need to present a major transformation programme to employees who are likely to see it primarily as cost cutting. Management sees it as necessary to protect the future of the business. How should I frame the communication without being misleading?

I have only five minutes to persuade an executive committee to fund my initiative. They will hear several competing proposals on the same day. How can I structure my message so that the value and importance of my recommendation stand out?

I need to communicate disappointing financial results to my team while maintaining confidence in our future. How can I frame the message positively without appearing to minimise or manipulate the bad news?

People keep describing a project that failed as “a disaster.” I think valuable lessons and opportunities have emerged from it. How can I reframe what happened without sounding as though I am denying the seriousness of the failure?

I am presenting a change initiative that will create considerable short-term disruption but significant long-term benefits. Employees are understandably focused on the immediate inconvenience. Which techniques can help me change the perspective from which they evaluate the change?

I’m interviewing for my first C-suite role after spending most of my career as a functional leader. The interviewers appear concerned that my experience is too specialised and that I haven’t previously carried enterprise-wide responsibility. How can I reframe my experience around leadership capability, strategic perspective and transferable value rather than allowing the conversation to remain focused on what I haven’t done?

I left my previous executive position following serious disagreements with the CEO over strategy. I don’t want to criticise my former employer, but I also don’t want to give an evasive answer when asked why I left. How can I explain the situation honestly, maintain professional respect and influence how the interviewer interprets the circumstances rather than allowing them to assume I was the problem?

I’m being interviewed for a regional leadership role covering several countries. I have strong leadership and commercial experience but have never worked in two of the organisation’s most important markets. The interviewer keeps returning to this gap. How can I acknowledge the concern, understand what sits behind it and shift the discussion toward the capabilities that determine whether I could succeed?

During an executive interview, the chairman says, “You’ve spent most of your career in large corporations. I’m not convinced you could operate successfully in our entrepreneurial culture.” I disagree, but directly challenging him could make the conversation adversarial. How could I respond using reframing, questioning and higher-level common ground to change his perception while first demonstrating that I understand his concern?

I’m considering a CEO role and need to determine whether the board and I genuinely share expectations around strategy, authority, culture and success. I want the position, so I’m concerned that asking difficult questions could make me appear demanding. How can I establish rapport and communicative safety while asking questions that reveal whether there is genuine alignment before accepting the role?

I’m a final-year university student interviewing for my first full-time job. I have good academic results and some extracurricular activities, but very little relevant work experience. I’m worried the interviewer will see me as inexperienced compared with other candidates. How can I communicate my potential and reframe my lack of experience without sounding defensive or making exaggerated claims?

I have an interview for a graduate programme with a senior executive who has a reputation for being quite formal and intimidating. I tend to become nervous around senior people and either talk too much or give very short answers. How can I build rapport, manage my communication style and remain confident without trying to imitate the interviewer unnaturally?

In a graduate interview I’ve been asked, “Tell me about a time you failed.” My biggest example is an important university project where my team performed badly and I contributed to the problem by not challenging the group early enough. How should I answer honestly while reframing the experience so the interviewer sees self-awareness, learning and future potential rather than failure?

I’m applying for a highly competitive graduate position. Most candidates are likely to have similar degrees, grades and internships, so simply listing my qualifications probably won’t differentiate me. How can I use communication, framing and contrast to help the interviewer perceive something distinctive about me while remaining authentic and avoiding sounding arrogant or overly rehearsed?

I’m halfway through my first important job interview and I feel it is going badly. The interviewer seems less engaged, my answers are becoming longer, and I’m getting increasingly nervous. I think I’m losing rapport. What should I notice, and what communication techniques can I use during the interview to reset the interaction rather than allowing my anxiety to make things worse?

My partner and I repeatedly argue about the same issue. We both know exactly what the other person is going to say and immediately become defensive. How can I change the pattern and turn the next conversation into something more constructive?

My partner says I don't listen to them. I believe I do listen but often disagree with their conclusions, which they interpret as me not understanding them. How can I demonstrate understanding without pretending that I agree?

I need to raise a sensitive issue with my partner about something they do that is upsetting me. I have avoided mentioning it because I don't want an argument, but my resentment is increasing. How should I begin the conversation?

During arguments my partner becomes quiet and withdraws while I want to continue discussing the issue until it is resolved. The more I push, the more they withdraw. What might be happening and how should I change my approach?

My partner said something during an argument that I interpreted as disrespectful. They insist that wasn't what they meant. I still feel hurt. How can we discuss the difference between their intention and my perception without arguing about who is right?

My teenage child has become increasingly unwilling to talk to me about school or their personal life. When I ask questions, I usually get one-word answers. How can I change my communication so they feel more comfortable talking openly with me?

My teenager has broken an important family rule. I need to make clear that the behaviour is unacceptable, but I don't want the conversation to become shouting, punishment and resentment. How should I approach it?

My child wants to make a decision that I think is a mistake. Every time I explain why, they accuse me of not trusting them. How can I communicate my concerns while still demonstrating respect for their growing independence?

My teenager becomes extremely defensive whenever I give them feedback and interprets criticism of their behaviour as criticism of them personally. How can I separate the behaviour from the person when communicating?

My child has failed at something they cared deeply about and now says, “I'm just not good enough.” How could I use reframing appropriately to help them develop another interpretation without dismissing how disappointed they feel?

A close friend repeatedly cancels arrangements at the last minute. I value the friendship but increasingly feel that my time isn't respected. How can I address this directly without making the conversation unnecessarily confrontational?

A family member regularly makes comments that I find disrespectful, then says I am “too sensitive” when I object. I want to establish a clearer boundary while preserving the relationship. How should I communicate this?

Two members of my family have fallen out and both keep trying to persuade me that the other person is wrong. I want to maintain good relationships with both without becoming part of their conflict. How should I respond?

A long-standing friendship has become increasingly one-sided. I feel that I provide most of the support and effort. Rather than simply withdrawing, I would like to discuss it. How should I frame the conversation?

I strongly disagree with a family member about an issue that is very important to both of us. Neither of us is likely to change our opinion. How can we discuss it without damaging our relationship?

I am meeting my partner's parents for the first time and want to create a good relationship without appearing as though I am trying too hard. What rapport behaviours should I pay attention to during the meeting?

I need to ask a friend for a significant favour and feel uncomfortable because I don't want them to feel obligated. How can I make the request in a way that protects the relationship and makes it easy for them to say no?

I often find networking events uncomfortable and struggle to move beyond superficial small talk. Which techniques from Communication Advantage could help me establish genuine rapport and develop more meaningful conversations?

Someone I have just met seems distant and uninterested in talking to me. My instinct is that they don't like me, but I realise I may be interpreting their behaviour incorrectly. How should I assess the situation and adapt my communication?

I need to persuade a group of friends to consider an option they have already dismissed. I don't want to become the person who keeps arguing for my preference. How could I reframe the discussion so they genuinely reconsider it?

How do I open a difficult conversation with someone who gets defensive?

I am into the last 20 applicants for 4 positions at my dream graduate intake. How do I make myself stand out from other candidates who may have better academic grades than I do?

How do I make my point land with a boss who is sceptical of it?

One person dominates every team meeting. How do I rebalance who speaks?

I am interviewing for internal promotion against a colleague who has been with the company longer than me. I have consistently outperformed since joining. How to do I position myself as the preferred candidate?

I have a contract renewal call tomorrow and I want to hold my price. How should I open?

A client has just asked me for 15% off. What do I say?

I need to turn down a request from someone senior without damaging the relationship.