The Accountability Conversation Playbook

How to hold people accountable without becoming “that manager”

How to hold people accountable without becoming “that manager.”

Holding people accountable shouldn’t feel like a personality test.

• You notice the missed deadline.

• The error that shouldn’t have happened.

• The tone shift.

And then the hesitation kicks in:

• Am I being too harsh?

• What if I damage the relationship?

• I don’t want to be the bad guy.

This short playbook is designed for those exact moments.

What This Is

The Accountability Conversation Playbook is a two-page, practical tool for mid-level managers who want to:

• Address issues early without escalating tension

• Hold clear standards while maintaining trust

• Prepare for accountability conversations without overthinking them

It’s designed to be used right before a conversation, not studied for hours.

What You’ll Get

Inside the playbook:

• A quick mindset reset to reduce hesitation

• Three questions to clarify what actually needs to be addressed

• A simple conversation flow you can follow in real time

• Language examples for what to say (and what to avoid)

• A clear way to close the loop and follow up

No scripts.

No corporate jargon.

Just clarity.

Who This Is For

This is for managers who:

• Care about their people and the work

• Want to lead with confidence instead of avoidance

• Are tired of second-guessing accountability conversations