Prepare for challenging conversations with a structured script and strategies for staying calm
I need to have a difficult conversation and want to prepare so it goes as smoothly as possible. The conversation I need to have is about [CONVERSATION_TOPIC]. I need to have this conversation with [RELATIONSHIP:select:my manager or boss,a colleague or coworker,a direct report or employee I manage,a client or customer,a friend,a family member,my partner or spouse,a neighbor or acquaintance]. The main issue or concern I need to address is: [MAIN_ISSUE] The outcome I am hoping for is: [DESIRED_OUTCOME] I am worried the other person might [CONCERN:select:become defensive or angry,dismiss my concerns,make excuses or deflect,get emotional or upset,not take me seriously,retaliate or hold it against me,shut down and not engage]. My relationship with this person is [RELATIONSHIP_QUALITY:select:generally good and I want to preserve it,strained but I want to improve it,professional and I need to keep it that way,already damaged and this is a last effort]. Help me prepare for this conversation. Give me an opening statement that is direct but not aggressive. Suggest how to frame the issue using I statements rather than accusations. Prepare me for likely pushback and how to respond calmly. Include phrases to de-escalate if things get heated. Tell me what to avoid saying. End with how to close the conversation constructively regardless of the outcome. Help me practice staying calm and focused on the goal.
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Get Early AccessNobody looks forward to hard conversations. Telling a coworker their work is not meeting standards, asking a boss for something uncomfortable, or addressing a problem with a friend. The stakes feel high, and most people either avoid the talk entirely or blurt out something they regret.
The Difficult Conversation Script helps you prepare before the emotion kicks in. You describe your [CONVERSATION_TOPIC], [MAIN_ISSUE], and [DESIRED_OUTCOME], and get back a complete framework: an opening statement, responses to likely pushback, de-escalation phrases, and a constructive closing. Everything uses "I" statements instead of accusations.
The script adapts to the specific relationship and context you describe. Talking to your boss about a raise requires a different approach than addressing a conflict with a direct report. The prompt accounts for these dynamics and adjusts the language, tone, and strategy accordingly.
Before a performance conversation, build a meeting agenda to structure the discussion with clear talking points. If the conversation involves presenting data or a formal case, use the presentation outline builder to organize your argument. Prepare your script in the Dock Editor so you can review it privately and edit it until the phrasing feels like your own voice.
In [CONVERSATION_TOPIC], describe the situation briefly. Replace [MAIN_ISSUE] with the core problem you need to address. Be specific: "missed three deadlines in a row" is more actionable than "performance issues."
Select who you are talking to in [RELATIONSHIP] and describe the relationship quality in [RELATIONSHIP_QUALITY]. This changes the script's tone. A conversation with someone you manage sounds different than one with your boss.
Fill in [DESIRED_OUTCOME] with what you want to happen after this conversation. "Agree on a performance improvement plan" gives the AI a target. "Just want to vent" tells it to focus on being heard rather than solving a problem.
Select the response you expect in [CONCERN]. If you think they will get defensive, the script prepares de-escalation phrases. If you worry about retaliation, it includes boundary-setting language and documentation reminders.
Read the opening statement several times until it feels natural. Memorize 2-3 de-escalation phrases. You do not need to follow the script word for word. The goal is to have a plan so emotion does not take over.
Prepare for performance reviews, termination conversations, or addressing workplace conflicts. The script provides structure for conversations that feel personal but need to stay professional.
Build confidence before asking for a raise, addressing a toxic dynamic, or pushing back on unreasonable workloads. Having prepared responses reduces the fear of being caught off guard.
Create coaching scripts for managers who need to have difficult conversations with their teams. Use the output as a training resource that shows what good conversation structure looks like.
Handle client disputes, vendor problems, or partnership disagreements with a plan. Set [RELATIONSHIP] to "client or customer" for scripts that protect the relationship while addressing the issue directly.
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