When Someone Really Screws Up and You Still Want to Help Them

The magic 19 words to turn a very difficult situation or conversation into an encounter with an amazing positive outcome.

Have you ever had a team member or a friend who really blew it? Messed something up big time, to the point where you need to offer correction/criticism that you know will sting? Not just sting, but really hurt, even to the point of devastation? Words that could easily cause a blow-up?

Maybe in a care setting, the team member caused real harm to a patient.

Or they caused the company to lose a big customer or blow a deal that was just about to close.

Or they did something to cause real emotional harm or embarrassment to another team member or customer.

Or they said or did something in public that caused real harm to your organization.

Or maybe it's not even a work situation. You have some hard truth that you need to deliver to a friend.

When Redemption Matters More Than Revenge

This is for those times when you value that team member, perhaps see more potential in them than they see in themselves.

You don't want to fire them. You don't want to discourage them so much that they'll "quiet quit" on you. You want better for them and the organization.

You might even use this when firing someone, though it probably matters less.

In a Hurry, Do This

Here are the magic 19 words: It is the single best thing you can do to turn this very difficult situation or conversation into an encounter with an amazing positive outcome: