Job Aid — The Observe → Impact → Ask Framework
A one-page reference for managers heading into a performance conversation — designed to be used in the moment, not studied in advance.
Quick Reference · When to Use
Observe → Impact → Ask
Right before a conversation about a specific performance issue — pull this out as a quick reference, not a script to memorize.
Observe
State the specific behavior or pattern. No judgment language.
Example
“The last three reports were late.”
Impact
Name what it affected: a deadline, a teammate, a client, trust.
Example
“That delayed the team’s deliverable to the client.”
Ask
“Help me understand what’s going on.” Then actually listen.
Example
“Help me understand what’s been going on.”
One reminder: This isn’t about getting the wording perfect. It’s about leading with what happened, not with how you feel about what happened.
