Manager conversations

Manager Script Library

The exact words for twenty-six hard conversations, with the replies for what people say back, a planner that preps each one in ten minutes, and a log that keeps the record and flags the follow-up.

6979USD

One-time purchase, no subscription. Instant download.

Built by expert HR practitioners and leaders

  • The exact words for twenty-six conversations: scripts across eight sections, from the first attendance talk to the termination meeting run with HR, each written to be said almost word for word
  • The replies for what people say back: every script carries the likely responses organized by what the employee says back, with the suggested reply for each, so the conversation does not fall apart at the first pushback
  • A planner that preps in ten minutes: plan the conversation down one form: the facts with dates, the standard, the outcome you want, your opening line, and the responses you expect
  • A log that flags the follow-up: log what was said, what was agreed, and the follow-up date, and let the log flag it when a follow-up comes due or runs late
  • A Script Selector and a hard-stop list: the Script Selector matches the situation in front of you to the right script in under a minute, and the quick reference carries the line where you pause and bring in HR the same day

The library gives the manager the words, the plan, and the record. It is not a substitute for counsel, and termination, leave, accommodation, and complaint situations carry legal weight, so involve HR or qualified counsel before you act on them.

One-time purchase Instant download Editable files 14-day guarantee

Four editable files in Word, Excel, and PDF, general business information, not legal or tax advice. Termination, leave, accommodation, and complaint situations carry legal weight, so involve HR or qualified counsel before you act on them and before you rely on this.

Last reviewed June 2026

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Editable filesExcel, Word, PDF
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What you get

Four files that turn a conversation you are avoiding into one you can run

The planner and log run in Excel, the library and quick reference open in Word and PDF, and the Product License covers the kit. A short Google Sheets guide is included.

PDFStart here

Start Here Guide

The one-page map: find your script with the Script Selector, plan the conversation, run it from the script, log it the same day.

DOCXWord and PDF

Manager Script Library

Twenty-six scripts across eight sections, from the first attendance talk to the termination meeting run with HR, each written to be said almost word for word, with the objective, preparation, exact wording, replies organized by what the employee is likely to say back, documentation guidance, and follow-up actions. A Script Selector matches the situation in front of you to the right script in under a minute.

XLSXExcel

Conversation Planner and Log

Plan the conversation down one form: the facts with dates, the standard, the outcome you want, your opening line, and the responses you expect. Then log what was said, what was agreed, and the follow-up date, and let the log flag it when a follow-up comes due or runs late.

PDFGuide

Conversation Quick Reference

The universal arc every hard conversation follows, the five rules that run through all of them, and the hard-stop list: where you pause and bring in HR the same day.

How it works

From a conversation you keep postponing to one you can run today

The Script Selector finds the right words, the planner preps the conversation in about ten minutes, and the log keeps the record and flags the follow-up.

STEP 01

Find the script and plan it

Use the Script Selector to match the situation to the right script in under a minute, then plan it down the one form in about ten minutes: the facts, the standard, the outcome, and the responses you expect.

STEP 02

Run the conversation from your plan

Run the conversation from the plan you built, with the script written to be said almost word for word and the replies ready for what the employee says back.

STEP 03

Log it the same day

Log what was said, what was agreed, and the follow-up date, and let the log flag the follow-up when it comes due, so nothing falls through and the record is there if it is needed.

The standard

Built for any manager, honest about the hard stops

Every manager has a conversation they are putting off, not because they do not care, but because they do not know what to say when the employee pushes back. This library is the words for twenty-six of them, and it says out loud which conversations are not a manager’s to run alone.

The replies are the difference. Most script collections give you an opening line and abandon you at the first pushback. Every script here carries the likely responses, organized by what the employee says back, with the suggested reply for each, so the conversation does not fall apart at the moment it matters.
Scripts that survive the pushback. Each one carries the replies organized by what the employee says back, because an opening line is worthless the second the conversation goes off the page.
A library that knows its limits. If a conversation reaches harassment, discrimination, a medical condition or a request for leave, a threat, or anything physical, the script stops and the rule is to bring it to HR the same day.
Universal situations, specific words. The twenty-six conversations are the ones every manager faces; the wording is specific enough to use almost as written, in a plant, a crew, a practice, or an office.
Is this for you

Who it is built for

Who the library fits, and where to go if your team needs more than the scripts.

Built for

  • Any manager who runs people and has a hard conversation they keep postponing because they do not know what to say when it goes sideways.
  • A manager who improvises the hard talk and documents it afterward, if at all, and wants the words and the record handled the same way every time.
  • A team in a plant, a crew, a practice, or an office that wants one consistent standard for how hard conversations are run.

If your need is different

Questions

Before you buy

Which conversations does it cover?
Twenty-six, across eight sections: attendance, performance and improvement plans, conduct, pay and promotion, retention and resignations, conflict and complaints, growth and recognition, and the termination and position elimination meetings run with HR.
Is this for one industry?
No. The scripts are written for any manager who runs people: a plant, a crew, a practice, an office. The situations are universal; the words are specific.
Do I read the script during the conversation?
You plan from it the day before with the planner, then run the conversation from your plan. The scripts are written to be said almost word for word, and the quick reference carries the arc.
Do I need special software?
No. The library opens in Word, the quick reference is PDF, and the planner opens in Excel or Google Sheets. A short guide for Google Sheets is included.
What is the refund policy?
Digital products are covered by a 14-day money-back guarantee. See the refund policy for the full terms.
What happens after I buy?
Checkout delivers an instant download link, and a receipt with the same link arrives by email. Start by finding the script you need with the Script Selector, then plan it on the one-page form. If a file gives you trouble, email support@truestephr.com.
Can I expense this purchase to my business?
Most customers buy TrueStep HR tools for business use, and a tool you use for work often qualifies as a deductible business expense. Whether it does for you depends on your situation, so confirm with your accountant or tax professional. Your receipt arrives by email at checkout and works as documentation.
Free guide

The 6 red flags to check before you discipline or fire someone

A five-minute screen that catches the most common and most expensive people-decision mistakes before they happen. Free PDF, sent to your inbox. Unsubscribe anytime.

Get the kit

Stop putting off the conversation

The talk you have been avoiding, the pushback you cannot predict, and the record you never quite keep: the library turns them into the exact words, the replies for what comes back, and a log that flags the follow-up.

$69
One-time purchase, no subscription

Manager conversation support, not legal or tax advice. Last reviewed June 2026.