No one ever likes to hear that they are not doing well. However, sometimes it is up to managers to provide guidance to low-performing employees and create a plan to help them improve. Those conversations often mean the difference between a positive company culture and one that falls short.

In this discussion, reflect back on a time when a past manager made a difference in a positive way and when he or she made a difference in a negative way. How did the leadership communications in these cases embody or not embody best practices and systems theory principles? When a manager is reaching an internal audience such as his or her own company, what does effective leadership communication look like? You may alter the names of companies and/or people involved to protect their identities.