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Agent skill

Difficult Workplace Conversations

by davila7 in davila7/claude-code-templates

Structured approach to workplace conflicts, performance discussions, and challenging feedback using preparation-delivery-followup framework.

MITAuto-check passed

Install Difficult Workplace Conversations

skills CLI
$ npx skills add davila7/claude-code-templates --skill difficult-workplace-conversations -a claude-code

Project install by default; add -g for ~/.claude/skills/.

GitHub CLI
$ gh skill install davila7/claude-code-templates difficult-workplace-conversations --agent claude-code

Project scope by default; add --scope user for a personal install. Needs GitHub CLI 2.90.0 or later (public preview).

Manual copy
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/davila7/claude-code-templates.git skills-src && mkdir -p .claude/skills && cp -r skills-src/cli-tool/components/skills/enterprise-communication/difficult-workplace-conversations .claude/skills/difficult-workplace-conversations && rm -rf skills-src

Use ~/.claude/skills/ instead of .claude/skills for a personal install. The folder must contain SKILL.md.

Claude Code skills documentation · loads skills from .claude/skills/

Facts

Skill name
difficult-workplace-conversations
GitHub stars
32k
Used in
2 other repos
Token cost
~1.8k tokens
SKILL.md length
678 words
Files
6 (incl. references)
Skills in repo
478
Repo updated
First seen
Licence
MIT

At a glance

Structured approach to workplace conflicts, performance discussions, and challenging feedback using preparation-delivery-followup framework.

  • Works in 3 steps: Preparation (Before) → Delivery (During) → Followup (After)
  • Preparing for tough conversations
  • SKILL.md covers When to Use This Skill, Core Framework:…, Key Principles and Conversation Types, plus 5 more sections
  • Instructions only: no scripts, shell commands, URLs or credentials in SKILL.md

What it does

Difficult Workplace Conversations is an agent skill from davila7/claude-code-templates. Structured approach to workplace conflicts, performance discussions, and challenging feedback using preparation-delivery-followup framework. Use when preparing for tough conversations, addressing conflicts, giving critical feedback, or navigating sensitive workplace discussions.

Its SKILL.md is about 1.8k tokens, which your agent loads only when the skill is triggered. The skill folder holds 6 other files, including reference files (for example `README.md`, `references/conversation-framework.md` and `references/delivery-scripts.md`).

The repository describes itself as: CLI tool for configuring and monitoring Claude Code. The licence is MIT.

When your agent uses it

  • Preparing for tough conversations
  • Addressing conflicts
  • Giving critical feedback
  • Navigating sensitive workplace discussions

Example prompts

  • “/difficult-workplace-conversations”

Requirements

  • Pre-approved tools (allowed-tools): Read, Glob, Grep

Workflow steps

3 steps, taken from the step headings in SKILL.md.

  1. Preparation (Before)
  2. Delivery (During)
  3. Followup (After)

What it can do on your machine

Read from SKILL.md and the folder at commit 46b4d8b. It shows what the files ask for, not the result of running them.

  • Tool permissions

    Pre-approves these tools, so the agent can use them without asking each time:

    • Read
    • Glob
    • Grep

    From allowed-tools in the SKILL.md frontmatter.

  • Runs code

    No scripts in the folder and no shell commands in SKILL.md (its code samples are markdown).

    From the folder's file list and the shell code blocks in SKILL.md.

  • Network

    No URLs in SKILL.md.

    From URLs in SKILL.md, links to its own repository left out.

  • Credentials

    Names no API keys, tokens, secrets or passwords.

    From names ending in _API_KEY, _TOKEN, _SECRET, _KEY or _PASSWORD in SKILL.md.

Context cost

Difficult Workplace Conversations loads about 1.8k tokens when it runs, and up to ~10k if it reads all its reference files. Until then it costs about 78 tokens; SKILL.md has 678 words of instructions outside code blocks.

Always · name and description, kept in context so the agent knows when to use it
~78
When it runs · the whole SKILL.md, loaded when a task matches
~1.8k
With references · SKILL.md plus every file in references/, read only if the agent opens them
~10k

Estimates: characters ÷ 4, the usual rule of thumb; real counts depend on the model's tokenizer. Scripts and assets cost tokens only if the agent reads them.

Safety

Auto-check passed

The automated check found no risky patterns in SKILL.md.

Automated static check — not a guarantee. Review scripts before installing. It scans the text of SKILL.md for risky patterns (piping downloads into a shell, reading credential files, hidden Unicode, destructive commands); files beside SKILL.md are not scanned.

SKILL.md

The full file from davila7/claude-code-templates at commit 46b4d8b, republished under its MIT licence (© davila7). 678 words, ~1,820 tokens.

Download SKILL.mdSave it as .claude/skills/difficult-workplace-conversations/SKILL.md (or your agent's skills folder). This skill also uses 5 other files; get the full folder from GitHub.
name
difficult-workplace-conversations
description
Structured approach to workplace conflicts, performance discussions, and challenging feedback using preparation-delivery-followup framework. Use when preparing for tough conversations, addressing conflicts, giving critical feedback, or navigating sensitive workplace discussions.
allowed-tools
Read, Glob, Grep

Difficult Conversations Skill

A structured framework for approaching challenging workplace conversations including conflicts, performance issues, sensitive feedback, and emotionally charged discussions.

When to Use This Skill

  • Preparing for a challenging conversation with a colleague
  • Addressing performance issues with a team member
  • Delivering difficult feedback to a peer or manager
  • Navigating conflict between team members
  • Discussing sensitive topics (salary, promotion, termination)
  • Handling emotional or defensive reactions
  • Following up after difficult discussions

Core Framework: Preparation-Delivery-Followup

Difficult conversations succeed or fail based on three phases:

Phase 1: Preparation (Before)

Purpose: Set yourself up for a productive conversation

  1. Clarify the Issue

    • What specifically happened? (Observable facts only)
    • What is the impact? (On you, team, work)
    • What do you need to change?

  2. Check Your Emotions

    • What am I feeling? Why?
    • Am I calm enough to have this conversation?
    • What might trigger me during this conversation?

  3. Consider Their Perspective

    • How might they see this situation?
    • What constraints or pressures might they have?
    • What do they care about that I can acknowledge?

  4. Define Your Goal

    • What outcome do I want?
    • What is the minimum acceptable result?
    • What am I willing to compromise on?
Phase 2: Delivery (During)

Purpose: Have the conversation effectively

  1. Open Neutrally

    • Start with facts, not judgments
    • Express intent to understand, not accuse
    • Create psychological safety

  2. Share Your Perspective

    • Describe behavior, not character
    • Focus on impact, not intention
    • Use "I" statements, not "you always"

  3. Listen Actively

    • Ask clarifying questions
    • Acknowledge their viewpoint
    • Look for shared interests

  4. Seek Resolution

    • Propose specific actions
    • Agree on next steps
    • Set check-in timeline
Phase 3: Followup (After)

Purpose: Ensure lasting resolution

  1. Document Agreements

    • What was agreed?
    • Who does what by when?
    • How will you measure success?

  2. Check Progress

    • Follow up as promised
    • Acknowledge improvements
    • Address continued issues promptly

  3. Maintain Relationship

    • Separate issue from person
    • Rebuild trust over time
    • Watch for regression

Key Principles

Separate Impact from Intent

What happened: Observable behavior What I felt: Your emotional response What I assume: Their intention (often wrong)

Focus conversation on behavior and impact, not assumed intentions.

The SBI Model

Situation: When and where did this happen? Behavior: What specifically did they do/say? Impact: What was the effect on you, the team, or the work?

Managing Emotions
If You FeelBefore Acting
AngryWait 24 hours, write but don't send
HurtTalk to neutral party first
AnxiousPractice the conversation
DefensiveIdentify your contribution
Show full SKILL.md (277 more words)Show less
When to Escalate

Escalate when:

  • Safety is at risk
  • Legal issues involved
  • Repeated conversations haven't worked
  • Power dynamics prevent resolution
  • You need documentation

Conversation Types

Performance Feedback
  • Lead with specific examples
  • Connect to expectations/standards
  • Focus on future improvement
  • Offer support and resources
Conflict Resolution
  • Hear both sides separately first
  • Identify underlying interests
  • Look for win-win solutions
  • Document agreements
Sensitive Topics
  • Choose private, neutral setting
  • Allow time for processing
  • Be direct but compassionate
  • Respect confidentiality
Receiving Feedback
  • Thank them for feedback
  • Ask clarifying questions
  • Don't defend immediately
  • Reflect before responding

References (Load When Needed)

Detailed Frameworks

See Also

  • feedback-mastery skill - SBI feedback model (overlaps but more feedback-focused)
  • professional-effective-communication skill - General communication patterns

Example Scenarios

Scenario 1: Addressing Missed Deadlines
markdown
**Issue:** Team member missed 3 deadlines in past month
**Impact:** Project delayed, others blocked
**Goal:** Understand root cause, agree on prevention plan

**Opening:** "I wanted to check in about the recent deliverables. I've noticed
the last three have come in past deadline, and I'd like to understand what's
happening and how we can address it together."
Scenario 2: Peer Conflict
markdown
**Issue:** Colleague publicly criticized your work in meeting
**Impact:** Embarrassed, trust damaged
**Goal:** Address behavior, rebuild working relationship

**Opening:** "I'd like to talk about what happened in yesterday's standup.
When you said my code 'missed obvious issues,' I felt called out in front
of the team. I'd like to understand your concerns and find a better way
to handle code quality feedback."
Scenario 3: Asking Manager for Raise
markdown
**Issue:** Feel underpaid relative to market/contribution
**Impact:** Demotivation, considering leaving
**Goal:** Discuss compensation, get timeline or adjustment

**Opening:** "I'd like to discuss my compensation. I've been here two years,
taken on the payments project leadership, and want to make sure my salary
reflects my contributions and the current market."

Anti-Patterns to Avoid

In Preparation
  • Scripting every word - You'll sound robotic; prepare themes, not scripts
  • Building a case - This isn't a trial; seek understanding, not winning
  • Waiting too long - Issues compound; address promptly
In Delivery
  • Starting with "You always..." - Triggers defensiveness immediately
  • Burying the lead - Get to the point; don't soften excessively
  • Asking leading questions - "Don't you think..." isn't asking
In Followup
  • Forgetting to check in - Without follow-up, nothing changes
  • Holding grudges - Issue resolved means relationship continues
  • Over-documenting - Not everything needs written record

Success Metrics

A successful difficult conversation:

  • Both parties feel heard
  • Specific actions are agreed
  • Relationship is preserved or improved
  • The issue doesn't recur (or has clear escalation)
  • Neither party is blindsided later

© davila7, MIT. Rendered from Markdown: HTML in the file is shown as text, images as links, and headings moved down two levels. Raw file

Files

SKILL.md and 5 other files (references) in cli-tool/components/skills/enterprise-communication/difficult-workplace-conversations of davila7/claude-code-templates.

  • SKILL.md
  • README.md
  • references/conversation-framework.md
  • references/delivery-scripts.md
  • references/emotional-regulation.md
  • references/preparation-template.md

Open the folder on GitHubat commit 46b4d8b

Used in 2 other repositories

We found 2 copies of this SKILL.md (exact, near-identical or edited) in other folders, from 2 other GitHub owners. This page covers the copy in davila7/claude-code-templates, which our catalogue first saw on October 7, 2026.

Compare with similar skills

Difficult Workplace Conversations next to the 5 skills that share the most tags, products or categories with it. Stars are the repository's; “used in” counts other GitHub owners with a copy.

Difficult Workplace Conversations compared with similar skills
SkillStarsUsed inTokensAuto-checkLicenceRepo updated
Difficult Workplace Conversations this skilldavila7/claude-code-templates32k2 repos~1.8kAutomated safety check: PassMIT
Difficult Conversationmohitagw15856/pm-claude-skills1.4k—~944Automated safety check: PassMIT
Feedbackcodewhale-hq/Codewhale41k—~272Automated safety check: PassMIT
Modeling Conversion MetricsPostHog/posthog40k—~1.4kAutomated safety check: PassCustom licence
Agent Challengesruvnet/ruflo74k2 repos~995Automated safety check: PassMIT
Capture Conversationoutline/outline41k—~474Automated safety check: PassCustom licence

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Questions about Difficult Workplace Conversations

What does Difficult Workplace Conversations do?

Structured approach to workplace conflicts, performance discussions, and challenging feedback using preparation-delivery-followup framework. Difficult Workplace Conversations is an agent skill from davila7/claude-code-templates. Structured approach to workplace conflicts, performance discussions, and challenging feedback using preparation-delivery-followup framework.

When should I use Difficult Workplace Conversations?

Difficult Workplace Conversations fits situations like: preparing for tough conversations; addressing conflicts; giving critical feedback; navigating sensitive workplace discussions.

How do I install Difficult Workplace Conversations in Claude Code?

Run `npx skills add davila7/claude-code-templates --skill difficult-workplace-conversations -a claude-code`. Or copy the skill folder (cli-tool/components/skills/enterprise-communication/difficult-workplace-conversations in davila7/claude-code-templates) into .claude/skills/difficult-workplace-conversations in your project. Claude Code loads it when a task matches its description.

How do I install Difficult Workplace Conversations in Codex?

Run `npx skills add davila7/claude-code-templates --skill difficult-workplace-conversations -a codex`. Or copy the skill folder (cli-tool/components/skills/enterprise-communication/difficult-workplace-conversations in davila7/claude-code-templates) into .agents/skills/difficult-workplace-conversations in your project. Codex loads it when a task matches its description.

Can I use Difficult Workplace Conversations in Cursor, Gemini CLI or GitHub Copilot?

Cursor, Gemini CLI, GitHub Copilot and OpenCode also load SKILL.md folders. With the skills CLI, run `npx skills add davila7/claude-code-templates --skill difficult-workplace-conversations -a cursor` (or -a gemini-cli, github-copilot or opencode for the others). To copy it by hand, put the folder in .cursor/skills/difficult-workplace-conversations, .gemini/skills/difficult-workplace-conversations, .github/skills/difficult-workplace-conversations and .opencode/skills/difficult-workplace-conversations in your project.

What does Difficult Workplace Conversations need to run?

SKILL.md names no scripts, command-line tools or credentials: Difficult Workplace Conversations is instructions for the agent only. Its frontmatter pre-approves these tools: Read, Glob, Grep.

Does Difficult Workplace Conversations access the network?

SKILL.md contains no URLs. Any network use would come from the scripts or tools the agent runs. This is read from the text; nothing was executed.

Is Difficult Workplace Conversations safe to install?

Our automated static check of SKILL.md found no risky patterns, such as piping downloads into a shell, reading credential files or hidden Unicode. It is not a guarantee. Review the folder before installing.

What licence does Difficult Workplace Conversations use?

Difficult Workplace Conversations is published under the MIT licence (the repository's licence). It allows redistribution, so the full SKILL.md is shown on this page.

How many tokens does Difficult Workplace Conversations use?

About 1.8k tokens (SKILL.md is roughly 7.3k characters). Agents keep only the skill's name and description in context until a task matches; then they load SKILL.md in full. Its references folder adds about 8.6k tokens, read only when the agent opens those files.

What are the alternatives to Difficult Workplace Conversations?

Skills that share tags, products or a category with Difficult Workplace Conversations: Difficult Conversation (mohitagw15856/pm-claude-skills, 1.4k stars), Feedback (codewhale-hq/Codewhale, 41k stars), Modeling Conversion Metrics (PostHog/posthog, 40k stars) and Agent Challenges (ruvnet/ruflo, 74k stars). The comparison table on this page puts their stars, adoption, token cost, safety result and licence side by side.

Who maintains Difficult Workplace Conversations?

davila7 (a GitHub user) maintains it in davila7/claude-code-templates, which has 32,483 GitHub stars. The repository holds 478 skills in this directory. The repository was last updated on October 9, 2026.

Source: davila7/claude-code-templates on GitHub. Facts on this page come from the repository at the commit we read; the author's words are quoted as theirs.