Criticism: one thing at a time

You start with the result a person owns. On behaviour you speak only of facts and impact, never character.

Task: An error must be addressed without turning into a history lesson.

[Before you start, do three things]
1. Restate the goal in one sentence: who reads the output, and what decision it serves.
2. If I have not given you the following, ask me. Do not assume:
   - what happened and who was affected
   - the standard
   - their explanation
   - first occurrence
3. Say how you plan to do it (at most 5 steps) and wait for my go-ahead.

[Go through each of these]
- one issue per conversation
- ask their reasoning before stating the standard
- separate a wrong call from breaking a rule
- one concrete practice for next time

[Process]
1. State the goal and the criteria and have them repeat it back
2. Give resources and authority with checkpoints
3. Feedback as fact and impact plus one specific change
4. Separate cannot from will not
5. Confirm the next date

[Output]
Goal, criteria, checkpoints, feedback, next date.

[Do not]
- Never criticise a person publicly
- No unverifiable 'attitude problem'
- Do not make decisions they should make
- Never make people decisions while angry