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ME-04 | Performance Conversation Preparation

You’ve noticed a possible performance gap.

This short preparation tool will help you clarify what you see, separate facts from assumptions, consider what you may not understand and prepare for a constructive conversation about improvement.

Prepare with FACTS

Before you have a performance conversation, take a few minutes to work through FACTS.

It is a simple way to help you separate what you know from what you assume, clarify the performance gap, and prepare for a fair and useful conversation.

F — Facts

Start with what you actually know. Identify the specific examples, behaviours, results or patterns you have observed, and separate these from assumptions, impressions or hearsay.

Ask yourself: What do I know?

A — Agreed Expectations

Clarify what was reasonably expected. Consider the required result, standard, behaviour, deadline or way of working — and whether that expectation had actually been communicated and understood.

Ask yourself: What should be happening?

C — Consequences & Context

Consider the impact of the performance gap and what may be contributing to it. Think about the effect on work, colleagues, customers, deadlines or outcomes, while staying curious about the possible causes.

Ask yourself: Why does it matter — and what might explain it?

T — Target Improvement

Be clear about what needs to change. Describe improved performance in observable terms — the result, standard, behaviour, quality, consistency or timeframe you need to see.

Ask yourself: What needs to change?

S — Support & Next Steps

Consider what will give improvement the best chance of happening. Think about appropriate support, agreed actions, when progress will be reviewed and what you want the first conversation to achieve.

Ask yourself: How are we going to help make that happen?

This assessment will guide you through each part of FACTS and help you prepare for the conversation.