WHAT TO SAY AND HOW TO SAY IT USING TEMPLATES TO GUIDE AND DOCUMENT CONVERSATIONS You can use conversation templates to help you deliver your observations in a more powerful way, and your performance management solution, if you have one, should provide templates that can be con昀椀gured to re昀氀ect your organizational priorities. Similarly, you can use your performance management technology to document your conversations and record expectations so that you and your employees can both look back with shared understanding. This might include: • A record of the conversation agenda • Notes on the conversation topics and outcomes • Agreed-upon next steps for employees or managers • Formal goals and objectives • Follow-ups for future conversations THE MANAGER’S ULTIMATE GUIDE TO GREAT CONVERSATIONS 21