HardTalks

HardTalks is a mobile + web AI coaching app for practicing the conversations most managers avoid: performance warnings, missed deadlines, conflict mediation, compensation pushback, and layoffs. You pick a scenario, set the context, and role-play with an AI “direct report” that pushes back realistically (defensive, emotional, evasive, overly agreeable). After the role-play, you get a blunt scorecard on clarity, empathy, specificity, accountability, and next steps, plus suggested rewrites of your key lines. The app also generates a one-page conversation plan (opening, facts, impact, ask, boundaries, follow-up) and a checklist to document outcomes. It’s not therapy and it won’t turn bad managers into great ones overnight—but it will reduce avoidable damage from poorly handled conversations and help new leaders build reps fast without risking real relationships.