Performance management
Practice talking to an employee who keeps missing deadlines
A free motivational interviewing role-play. You talk with Josh Brooks, played by an AI that stays in character, then get feedback on the moves you made.
Free for learners · Runs in your browser
How Josh opens
“So I'm guessing this is about the reports.”
Your brief
You manage Josh, a revenue cycle analyst who used to be one of your strongest people. His month-end reports have been late three months in a row, and the finance team has started asking you about it. He's been less engaged in team meetings too. You've scheduled a one-on-one.
Your goalUnderstand Josh's perspective and draw out any reasons he has for getting back on track, without forcing a plan.
What tends to shut them down
Lecturing about the impact on the finance team
Repeating the deadline or the consequences more than once
Offering solutions before understanding ("Have you tried time blocking?")
Closed-question interrogation about what he's been doing
Defending the promotion decision or the template if he raises them
Arguing with his reasons ("But the data is final on the 3rd")
Sarcasm, threats, or mentioning a performance improvement plan early
What tends to open them up
Reflecting the frustration under his flat answers
Acknowledging that something seems different for him lately, without judging
Open questions about what's changed or what the work used to be like
Affirming his track record or his skill specifically
Double-sided reflections that end on his reasons to change
Emphasizing that how he handles this is his choice
Asking permission before sharing the deadline expectations
Josh also has a backstory you won't see here. In the role-play, you draw it out.
Read first
Guides on the skills this role-play asks for.
- MI guide · 6 minHow to respond to sustain talk and resistance in MIHow to respond to sustain talk and discord in motivational interviewing: spot the righting reflex, then reflect, support autonomy and reframe rather than argue.
- MI guide · 6 minChange talk vs sustain talk: examples and DARN-CATLearn to hear change talk and sustain talk in MI, with DARN-CAT examples from clinics and workplaces, and how to respond to change talk using EARS.
- MI guide · 6 minOpen-ended questions in MI: closed-to-open rewritesHow to ask open-ended questions in motivational interviewing, with closed-to-open rewrites for patient visits and one-on-ones, plus the traps that undo them.
Talk with Josh yourself
The role-play opens in your browser. Type your replies or say them out loud, and finish with feedback on the moves you made.
Free for learners · Runs in your browser
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