Introduction: What You’ll Learn
This simulation helps you align expectations without sounding like you’re laying down the law. You’ll learn to clarify what’s needed while staying open, fair, and constructive.
You’ll practice:
- Naming gaps without blame
- Resetting expectations clearly
- Listening for misunderstandings or blockers
- Reinforcing mutual accountability
Step-by-Step Simulation
Scene 1: Framing the Conversation
You (Manager):
"Hey — I wanted to chat about how things have been going with the [project/task area]. I’ve noticed a bit of a mismatch between what I had in mind and how things played out — and I’d love to get on the same page."
Teammate (Luis):
"Oh — okay. Can you say more about what you’re seeing?"
You:
"Yeah — for example, in the last sprint, I noticed a few tasks stayed open without updates, and we were missing context in the handoff notes. It’s not a huge deal, but it has been creating some confusion."
Scene 2: Clarifying Expectations
Luis:
"Got it. I guess I wasn’t sure how detailed you wanted things to be."
You:
"That makes sense. That’s on me too — I may not have been clear enough up front. What I’d love to see is regular updates in the tickets, and quick notes in Slack if something’s blocked. Doesn’t have to be long — just enough to keep everyone in the loop."
Luis:
"Yeah, that sounds doable."
You:
"Cool. The goal here isn’t to check boxes — it’s to keep momentum and reduce confusion. I trust you to run with things — I just want to make sure we’re setting you up to succeed."
Scene 3: Reinforcing Accountability
You:
"One other thing I wanted to check in on: how are you feeling about your workload and ownership lately? Anything getting in the way of making this smoother?"
Luis:
"Honestly, I’ve been juggling a few things and probably let a couple things slip."
You:
"Appreciate you saying that. Let’s use this as a reset — not a scolding. I know you care, and a few small tweaks here could make things feel way less messy for the team."
Luis:
"Sounds good. I’ll start updating more consistently."
You:
"Thanks — I’ll keep an eye on how things are going so we can adjust together if needed. And if anything’s unclear at any point, just flag it. We’ll figure it out together as we go."
Mini Roleplay Challenges
Challenge 1:
Luis pushes back or deflects blame.
- Best Response:
“That’s fair — and I’m not trying to pin this all on you. I just want to look at what we can adjust moving forward.”
Challenge 2:
Luis says he thought things were fine.
- Best Response:
“I hear that — and I probably should have flagged this sooner. Let’s walk through what working well looks like so we’re both clear.”
Challenge 3:
Luis overcorrects and starts over-reporting.
- Best Response:
“Appreciate the updates — we don’t need play-by-plays, just clear signals so the team’s not in the dark.”
Optional Curveball Mode
- Luis is quietly frustrated and feels micromanaged.
- Expectations have changed but weren’t communicated clearly.
- Team norms around ownership are inconsistent or unclear.
Reflection Checklist
Clarity & Tone
- Did I name the gap without blaming?
- Did I sound like a partner, not a monitor?
Specificity & Support
- Did I give a concrete example of the expectation?
- Did I check for blockers or misunderstandings?
Follow-Through
- Did we agree on what “good” looks like?
- Did I offer follow-up or support to reinforce it?
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Letting unclear expectations fester
- Sounding frustrated or passive-aggressive
- Jumping to blame or policy enforcement
- Giving feedback without examples or support