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Free leadership tools you can use today.

No purchase and no account. Take the self-check, then print or use the tools on screen. Each one is built the same way as our paid playbooks, so you can see exactly how we work.

Tool 1 · 3 minutes

The leadership self-check

Eight statements, one for each core leadership capability. Rate how true each one is for you right now. You'll see the two areas to work on first and one thing to try this week for each.

I protect time for my most important work, even in busy weeks.Leading yourself

People on my team bring me bad news early.Trust and candor

When I hand over work, it usually comes back the way I expected.Clear expectations

I give specific feedback within a week of noticing something.Feedback and coaching

I am not doing work that someone on my team could own.Delegation

Decisions do not stall while they wait on me.Decisions and priorities

I am not avoiding a conversation I know I need to have.Difficult conversations

My team would describe our top three priorities the same way I would.Team focus

Private: your answers stay in your browser and are never sent anywhere.

Tool 2 · Conversation script

The missed-expectation conversation

For when work came in late, wrong or incomplete, and you need to address it without blame or avoidance. Fill in the brackets before you start, and keep it under 15 minutes.

Open with the specific fact

One sentence about what happened, not about the person.

"I want to talk about [the report due Thursday]. It came in [Monday], and [the client numbers weren't updated]."

Name the impact

Why it matters, so this is about the work and not your mood.

"Because of that, [I had to move the client call, and the team reworked the deck]."

Ask, then stop talking

Most missed expectations have a cause you can't see. Let the silence work.

"What happened from your side?"

Agree the standard

State what good looks like next time, and ask what would make it possible.

"Next time, what I need is [all numbers updated before it comes to me]. What would help you get there?"

Set the next check

Agree when you'll look at the next one together, before it's due.

"Let's look at the next one together on [Wednesday], a day before it's due."

Avoid

  • "You always..." or "You never..." It turns one fact into a verdict on the person.
  • Wrapping it in praise first. People wait for the "but" and stop listening.
  • Sending it by email or chat to avoid the discomfort.
  • Ending without a date for the next check.

If it goes sideways

  • They get defensive: "I'm not here to blame you. I want to understand what happened so the next one goes well."
  • They raise a real obstacle: solve that first, then come back to the standard.
  • It gets emotional: offer a short pause and agree a time within 24 hours to finish.

Tool 3 · Template

The one-page delegation brief

Most handoffs fail because "done" was never described. Fill this in together in ten minutes when you hand over a piece of work.

The task, and why it mattersOne or two sentences on the outcome and who it serves.
What done looks likeThree things you can check when it's finished.
Deadline and check-insThe due date, plus one check-in partway through.
They decideCalls they can make without asking you.
Check with me firstCalls that need a quick conversation.
Resources and peopleBudget, files, and who they can go to for help.
Risks to flag earlyWhat should make them tell you straight away.

Tip: before you finish, ask them to describe "what done looks like" in their own words. If it doesn't match what you wrote, fix it now, not on the due date.

Tool 4 · Meeting agenda

The 30-minute weekly one-on-one

A simple structure that keeps one-on-ones about the person, not just a status update. Their agenda comes first.

15 MINUTES

Their agenda

"What's on your mind this week?" Let them lead, and listen more than you talk.

8 MINUTES

Progress and blockers

"Where are you stuck, and where are you waiting on me?"

5 MINUTES

Growth

"What's one thing you'd like to get better at this month?" Go deeper once a month.

2 MINUTES

Commitments

Each of you says what you'll do before next week. Write it down.

Questions worth asking

  • What's taking more energy than it should?
  • What's one thing I could do differently that would help you?
  • What's something you've hesitated to tell me?

Keep it working

  • Don't cancel. Move it if you must, and say when.
  • Keep status updates in writing so the meeting is for conversation.
  • Start next week by checking last week's commitments.

Free reading

Leadership lessons, updated regularly.

Leadership in Practice

A weekly profile of one leader whose choices shaped others, turned into five lessons you can try this week.

Read this week's lesson →

Leadership Red Flags

Eight patterns that quietly damage teams, what healthy leadership looks like instead, and a measured way to respond.

Check the eight patterns →

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When you're ready for more

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One self-guided kit per capability, each with a diagnostic, scripts, tools and a 30-day sprint. Buy one, or all eight for $1,495.

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A field guide at two depths with 48 scripts, 57 tools and a "Right now I need to..." index for 100 situations. $1,800.

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