Clear Conversations Toolkit

Find your words.
Start the conversation.

Meet Clear Conversations Toolkit. Practical tools for managers, team leaders and professionals to prepare for difficult workplace conversations, give clear feedback and agree on the next steps.

Choose your Clear Conversations tools Try the free checklist

Colleagues discussing a sensitive workplace concern respectfully

You know it needs to be said. But where do you start?

You can’t find the words

You need to address a missed deadline, discuss behaviour or clarify a responsibility, but you’re unsure how to begin.

You worry about their reaction

You want to be honest without sounding harsh, damaging trust or making the situation worse.

Feelings get in the way

Frustration or nerves can make a performance discussion or team disagreement harder to handle calmly.

The conversation keeps waiting

You rehearse it in your head, put it off and find yourself carrying the same concern into another day.

Meet Clear Conversations Toolkit

A workplace concern deserves a clearer starting point.

Clear Conversations Toolkit brings together 10 practical templates, guides and prompts from The Success Institute. They help managers and professionals turn a workplace concern into a clearer plan: describe the facts, explain the impact, ask useful questions and agree on what happens next.

Use them to prepare for a performance discussion, address a concern with a colleague, clarify a client expectation or agree on team responsibilities. Start with one tool or choose the complete toolkit with pre-recorded guidance.

See the 10 Clear Conversations tools

The ten illustrated Clear Conversations Toolkit resource covers

Less guessing. A clearer way forward.

Start with more confidence
Clarify what matters and prepare your opening words.
Listen with an open mind
Ask useful questions and check your understanding.
Explain concerns clearly
Describe what happened and why it matters to you.
Stay focused under pressure
Recognise when you need to pause and refocus.
Protect respect and trust
Be direct about the issue while showing care for the person.
Agree on practical next steps
Discuss what each person can do and when to check in.

Two male colleagues having a respectful workplace conversation

For the workplace conversationsthat need a clearer approach

Whether you lead a team, support managers or work closely with colleagues and clients, Clear Conversations helps you prepare when a workplace conversation feels sensitive, awkward or overdue.

Team leaders & managers

Address missed deadlines, discuss performance concerns and make expectations clear while treating people with respect.

HR & people teams

Support managers with practical preparation, consistent conversation prompts and follow-up tools for everyday people challenges.

Business owners & professionals

Raise concerns with colleagues, clients or business partners, clarify expectations and discuss disagreements respectfully.

You don’t need perfect words.
You need a clearer starting point.

From “How do I say this?” to a practical plan

Choose a tool, work through the prompts and take your preparation into the conversation.

Choose your tool

Start with the resource that fits your situation, whether you need to prepare, listen, set expectations or follow up.

Prepare your thoughts

Separate the facts from your assumptions, identify what matters and decide what you want to discuss.

Plan your approach

Use the prompts to shape your opening words and questions. Adapt them so they sound natural to you.

Talk & follow through

Make space for their perspective, discuss realistic next steps and return to the conversation when needed.

Explore the 10 Clear Conversations tools

Support for each part of the conversation

Some conversations need a clearer opening. Others call for better listening, a pause or a plan to follow up. Clear Conversations Toolkit helps you prepare for these different moments.

Explore the covers to see what each tool helps you do. Use one on its own or combine several for the conversation ahead.

A delighted man and woman presenting the conversation resource stack with open hands

Choose your Clear Conversations Toolkit

Choose the Clear Conversations option that fits your needs.

Choose individual tools, the complete toolkit with coaching, or a licensed package to support learning within your organisation.

Nine smaller conversation resource covers beside a larger Conversation Preparation Planner cover

Clear Conversations Individual Tools

Start with the help you need today

Have a particular conversation in mind? Choose the resource that helps with your next step and build your collection as your needs change.

Choose an individual tool from the 10-resource collection
Focus on the part of the conversation that feels hardest
Use practical prompts to prepare, respond or follow up
Add other tools when you need them

For a specific concern, an upcoming conversation or a first step with Clear Conversations.

Explore individual tools

All ten Meet Clear Conversations Toolkit with pre-recorded Tool-by-Tool Coaching

Clear Conversations Complete Toolkit + Coaching

The full toolkit, with guidance at each step

Get all 10 tools plus pre-recorded coaching on how to use each one. Find the right resource for your situation and work through it with guidance.

All 10 Clear Conversations resources in one bundle
Pre-recorded coaching explaining how to use each tool
Guidance to help you choose where to start
Tools for preparation, the conversation and follow-up

For managers and professionals who want a collection to return to for feedback, expectations, team concerns and follow-up.

Explore toolkit + coaching

Clear Conversations resources, facilitator guide, workshop slides and participant worksheets

Licensed-Facilitation Package

Help others build clearer conversations

A package for facilitators, HR teams and workplace trainers who want to support practical learning within their organisation.

All 10 Clear Conversations conversation tools
Workshop slides and facilitator guidance
Practice activities and participant worksheets
A one-year licence to use the package

For people who facilitate learning and develop others. AU$399 for a one-year licence. Remaining licence terms to be confirmed.

Explore the licensed package

Questions about Clear Conversations Toolkit

Can I also use the tools outside work?

Yes. Clear Conversations is primarily designed for workplace conversations. You can also adapt the preparation, listening and follow-up prompts for an occasional conversation with a partner, family member or friend.

Do I need the complete toolkit?

You can choose an individual tool for a specific need, or the complete collection with pre-recorded coaching on how to use each resource.

What does the coaching include?

The complete bundle includes pre-recorded guidance explaining how to use each of the 10 tools.

Where should I start?

Start with the Conversation Preparation Planner to clarify your concern and purpose, or explore the free Conversation Preparation Checklist before choosing a tool.

Try a free Clear Conversations resource

Start with one clearer workplace conversation

Preparing for a conversation with a team member, colleague or client? Get the free Conversation Preparation Checklist to check the facts, clarify your purpose and plan your opening words.

Free Conversation Preparation Checklist with two colleagues and blue and peach artwork

Find your words.Start the conversation.