Someone keeps arriving after the shift starts
It has happened four times this month. You want it to stop without losing them.
Arun · Packing line operatorExplains it away
For difficult talks at work
iPhone app coming soon
Practise the talk before it happens.
Before You Say lets you rehearse a conversation before you have it. Speak or type your side. The app plays the other person and replies. Afterwards, see how the practice went and what you could say more clearly.
Know what you want to say before the conversation starts.
Speaking with ArunPacking line operator · A late handover
Voice practice
Arun said
“I got the details after my shift ended.”
Listening
Speak when you’re ready. Arun will answer out loud.
Practise for a real conversation. A safe place to find the words first.
The reason to practise
You know what needs to be said. Saying it is the hard part.
Maybe you need to give feedback, say no, or ask someone to change. You can think through the words in your head, but you cannot know how the talk will feel until someone answers.
Here, you can try the conversation before it matters. If the words do not come out right, you can work on them and practise again.
How it works
Three steps before the real talk
Start with a work situation in the app, or describe your own.
- 01
Set the scene
Tell the app who you need to speak with and what the talk is about.
- 02
Have the conversation
Speak out loud or type. The app answers as the other person, and you choose what to say next.
- 03
See what happened
See whether you reached your goal in the practice, what worked, and what you could change.
What you can practise
Start with a situation you recognise
The app shows ready-made situations for your kind of workplace. You can also describe your own conversation.
You have to turn down leave they have already booked
A no that costs them something real, said kindly and clearly.
Joseph · Care assistantGoes quiet
A parent wants their child moved to another class
The parent is upset and has asked twice. The answer is still no.
Mrs Khan · ParentComes in annoyed
The owner gives orders to your staff without telling you
The owner changes your plans on the shop floor. You need to ask them to speak with you first.
Mr Khan · OwnerWaves it away
A developer keeps missing the dates they give
Every task is nearly done until the day it is due. You want honest dates.
Karthik · Software developerExplains it away
A client wants a new feature before their launch date
The launch is three weeks away. The work will take six.
Laura · Product ownerComes in annoyed
Who you practise with
Choose how the other person may react.
It could be a younger colleague, a parent, or your own manager. Before you start, choose how they usually react. They may hear you out, explain it away, or go quiet.
What you get
Bring more than good intentions to the talk.
A clearer first conversation may save time spent repeating the same point or coming back to the same problem.
Words to start with
Begin with an opening you have already said once.
A reply you have heard before
Think about what to say if the person disagrees or explains their side.
A next step to ask for
Know what you want to happen before the talk ends.
After you practise
See how the practice went. Know what to say next.
Find out whether you reached your goal in the practice. See what worked and, if something got in the way, one thing to change. The feedback points to lines from your conversation. You can practise again before the real talk.
Example feedback
What happened
Arun explained the delay. You did not agree on what he will do next time.
What worked
You asked when the details reached him.
You said: “When did you get the details?”
One thing to change
Before ending, ask for a clear plan for the next handover.
You could say: “What will you do if the details come late again?”
Your feedback comes from your own practice.
Your conversation stays yours
Your employer cannot see your practice.
You can delete a practice or your account. Read the Privacy Policy to see how your information is handled.
Before You Say
Find the words before you need them.
The iPhone app is being prepared for release. Its App Store link will work when it is available.
Get the iPhone app