FULL Storyline Storyboard — Having a Difficult Conversation (Branching Scenario)

STORYBOARD: Having a Difficult Conversation as a Manager Branching Scenario — Storyline 360 Variables Branch Map (Decision Tree) Slide 1 → Slide 2 → Slide 3 (DP1) DP1 Best (A) → Slide 4A → Slide 5 (DP2) DP1 Okay (B) → Slide 4B → Slide 5 (DP2) DP1 Poor (C) → Slide 4C [Try Again] → Slide 3

Slide 5 (DP2) DP2 Best (A) → Slide 6A → Slide 7 (DP3) DP2 Okay (B) → Slide 6B → Slide 7 (DP3) DP2 Poor (C) → Slide 6C [Try Again] → Slide 5

Slide 7 (DP3) DP3 Best (A) → Slide 8A (Best Ending) DP3 Okay (B) → Slide 8B (Okay Ending) DP3 Poor (C) → Slide 8C (Poor Ending)

Slide 9 (Debrief) — reached from all 3 endings → SCORM completion Slide-by-Slide Storyboard Course Title | Having a Difficult Conversation as a Manager Format | Storyline 360 branching scenario Estimated Duration | 10–12 minutes Completion Type | Completion-based (reaches any ending slide) SCORM Version | SCORM 1.2 Navigation | Non-linear (branching). Prev/Next hidden — navigation via choice buttons only. Character | Jordan Chen — team member (any stock photo, professional attire) Setting | Office 1:1 meeting room. Clean, neutral background. Passing | No quiz score. Completion = learner reaches any of the 3 ending slides.

Slide | Type | Visuals / Layout | On-Screen Text & Prompts | Triggers & Variables | Branch To INTRO | INTRO | INTRO | INTRO | INTRO | INTRO 1 | Title Slide | Background: blurred office meeting room. Centered title card. Company logo top right. | TITLE: Having a Difficult Conversation as a Manager SUBTITLE: A scenario-based practice exercise BUTTON: [Start →] | TRIGGER: On click [Start →] → Jump to Slide 2 No variables set here. | Slide 2 2 | Setup / Context | Split screen: Left = Jordan's photo (seated, looking slightly tense). Right = narration text box. Manager POV framing. | NARRATOR TEXT: "You manage a team of 6 at a mid-sized company. One of your team members, Jordan Chen, has missed two deadlines in the past three weeks and seems increasingly disengaged in team meetings. You've scheduled a 1:1 for this afternoon. You've decided to address it directly. In this scenario, you'll make three key decisions. Each one affects how the conversation unfolds — and how Jordan feels when it's over. There's no single right answer for every situation — but some approaches land much better than others." BUTTON: [I'm ready →] | TRIGGER: On click [I'm ready →] → Jump to Slide 3 Note: Set attempts_dp1 = 0 here (initialize). | Slide 3 DECISION POINT 1 — How do you open the conversation? | DECISION POINT 1 — How do you open the conversation? | DECISION POINT 1 — How do you open the conversation? | DECISION POINT 1 — How do you open the conversation? | DECISION POINT 1 — How do you open the conversation? | DECISION POINT 1 — How do you open the conversation? 3 | Decision Point | Jordan seated across from camera (learner POV). Subtle nervous body language — arms crossed lightly, slight frown. Three choice buttons stacked below. IF attempts_dp1 > 0: Show hint banner at top: "Think about what opens people up vs. what puts them on guard." | SITUATION LABEL: Decision Point 1 of 3 JORDAN (image, not speaking — learner reads): Jordan looks up as you enter the room. NARRATOR: "The 1:1 begins. Jordan is waiting. How do you open the conversation?" CHOICE A: "Jordan, I've noticed you've missed the last two deadlines. I want to understand what's going on — can you walk me through it?" CHOICE B: "Jordan, we need to talk about your performance lately." CHOICE C: "Everyone's noticed you've been off your game lately. What's going on with you?" | TRIGGER A (Best): On click Choice A → Set choice_1 = "best" Adjust score = score + 2 Jump to Slide 4A TRIGGER B (Okay): On click Choice B → Set choice_1 = "okay" Adjust score = score + 1 Jump to Slide 4B TRIGGER C (Poor): On click Choice C → Set choice_1 = "poor" Adjust score = score + 0 Adjust attempts_dp1 = attempts_dp1 + 1 Jump to Slide 4C | 4A / 4B / 4C DECISION POINT 1 — Consequences | DECISION POINT 1 — Consequences | DECISION POINT 1 — Consequences | DECISION POINT 1 — Consequences | DECISION POINT 1 — Consequences | DECISION POINT 1 — Consequences 4A | Consequence (Best) | Jordan's body language shifts — uncrosses arms, slight lean forward. Expression: thoughtful, open. Green accent bar on slide border. | RESULT LABEL: ✅ Strong opening JORDAN RESPONSE (speech bubble or caption): "Yeah... honestly, things have been really hard lately. I didn't want to bring it up, but I've been dealing with some stuff at home." COACH FEEDBACK: "That landed well. You named a specific, observable behavior — not a character judgment. And you asked for their perspective before drawing conclusions. Jordan felt safe enough to be honest. That's the foundation this conversation needed." BUTTON: [Continue →] | TRIGGER: On click [Continue →] → Jump to Slide 5 | Slide 5 4B | Consequence (Okay) | Jordan looks slightly guarded — arms still crossed, expression neutral-defensive. Yellow/amber accent bar. | RESULT LABEL: ⚠️ Neutral — but watch the tone JORDAN RESPONSE: "What do you mean? I've been working really hard..." COACH FEEDBACK: "This is recoverable, but you've started on the back foot. 'Performance' is a loaded word — it activates defensiveness before the conversation has even begun. Jordan isn't hostile, but they're guarded. You'll need to work a little harder to earn honesty from here." BUTTON: [Continue →] | TRIGGER: On click [Continue →] → Jump to Slide 5 | Slide 5 4C | Consequence (Poor) + Retry | Jordan shuts down — looks away, expression closed off. Red accent bar. Try Again button visible. | RESULT LABEL: ❌ This approach backfired JORDAN RESPONSE: "..." (Jordan looks away and gives a minimal nod. The conversation is already damaged.) COACH FEEDBACK: "'Everyone's noticed' is shaming language — it tells Jordan that their struggle has been visible and judged by the whole team. Even if it's true, it creates shame, not dialogue. Jordan is unlikely to be honest from here. Let's try a different approach." BUTTON: [Try Again →] | TRIGGER: On click [Try Again →] → Jump to Slide 3 (attempts_dp1 was already incremented on Slide 3 trigger — hint banner will now appear on Slide 3) | Slide 3 DECISION POINT 2 — Jordan opens up. How do you respond? | DECISION POINT 2 — Jordan opens up. How do you respond? | DECISION POINT 2 — Jordan opens up. How do you respond? | DECISION POINT 2 — Jordan opens up. How do you respond? | DECISION POINT 2 — Jordan opens up. How do you respond? | DECISION POINT 2 — Jordan opens up. How do you respond? 5 | Decision Point | Jordan now leaning forward slightly — more open posture. Expression: vulnerable, uncertain. Three choice buttons below. | SITUATION LABEL: Decision Point 2 of 3 JORDAN (caption/speech bubble): "Things have been really hard lately. I've been overwhelmed but I didn't want to say anything because I didn't want to seem like I couldn't handle it." NARRATOR: "Jordan has opened up. This moment matters. How do you respond?" CHOICE A: "I really appreciate you telling me that. Tell me more about what's been overwhelming — I want to understand the full picture before we think about next steps." CHOICE B: "Okay, I understand. Let's figure out a plan to get things back on track." CHOICE C: "I hear you, but the deadlines still need to be met. What are you going to do differently going forward?" | TRIGGER A (Best): On click Choice A → Set choice_2 = "best" Adjust score = score + 2 Jump to Slide 6A TRIGGER B (Okay): On click Choice B → Set choice_2 = "okay" Adjust score = score + 1 Jump to Slide 6B TRIGGER C (Poor): On click Choice C → Set choice_2 = "poor" Adjust score = score + 0 Jump to Slide 6C | 6A / 6B / 6C DECISION POINT 2 — Consequences | DECISION POINT 2 — Consequences | DECISION POINT 2 — Consequences | DECISION POINT 2 — Consequences | DECISION POINT 2 — Consequences | DECISION POINT 2 — Consequences 6A | Consequence (Best) | Jordan visibly relaxes. Uncrossed arms, direct eye contact, slight expression of relief. Green accent bar. | RESULT LABEL: ✅ This built real trust JORDAN RESPONSE: "It's been a combination of things — my dad had a health scare, and I took on extra work from the restructuring without really telling anyone. I've been trying to hold everything together and falling short everywhere." COACH FEEDBACK: "Exactly right. You acknowledged their vulnerability before jumping to problem-solving. That one move — 'tell me more' — signals that you're a manager who listens first. Jordan gave you the real picture. Now you actually know what you're dealing with." BUTTON: [Continue →] | TRIGGER: On click [Continue →] → Jump to Slide 7 | Slide 7 6B | Consequence (Okay) | Jordan looks slightly relieved but also a bit confused — nods, but with reservation. Amber accent bar. | RESULT LABEL: ⚠️ Moving fast — Jordan isn't fully heard yet JORDAN RESPONSE: "Okay... yeah. I'll try to do better." COACH FEEDBACK: "You moved to solutions before fully understanding the problem. Jordan agreed — but notice how vague 'I'll try to do better' is. They don't feel fully heard, and you don't have the real picture yet. You'll get a plan, but it might not address the actual root cause." BUTTON: [Continue →] | TRIGGER: On click [Continue →] → Jump to Slide 7 | Slide 7 6C | Consequence (Poor) + Retry | Jordan closes back down — returns to defensive posture. Expression: flat, resigned. Red accent bar. | RESULT LABEL: ❌ You lost the opening Jordan gave you JORDAN RESPONSE: "...I guess I'll just figure it out." COACH FEEDBACK: "Jordan took a real risk by being vulnerable — and your response redirected immediately to accountability. That's a signal that honesty isn't actually safe here. The conversation just became transactional: deadlines, compliance, performance. You had a genuine connection available and stepped past it. Let's try again." BUTTON: [Try Again →] | TRIGGER: On click [Try Again →] → Jump to Slide 5 | Slide 5 DECISION POINT 3 — How do you close the conversation? | DECISION POINT 3 — How do you close the conversation? | DECISION POINT 3 — How do you close the conversation? | DECISION POINT 3 — How do you close the conversation? | DECISION POINT 3 — How do you close the conversation? | DECISION POINT 3 — How do you close the conversation? 7 | Decision Point | Jordan looks more settled — has been heard, some relief visible. Conversation is winding down. Three choice buttons below. | SITUATION LABEL: Decision Point 3 of 3 NARRATOR: "You've had a productive conversation. Jordan feels heard and has shared what's really been going on. Now it's time to close. Jordan asks:" JORDAN (speech bubble): "So... what happens now?" NARRATOR: "How do you close the conversation?" CHOICE A: "Let's set one clear goal for this week — something realistic given everything you've shared. Then I'll check in with you on Wednesday to see how you're doing and if there's anything I can remove from your plate." CHOICE B: "Let's just see how this week goes. Come find me if you need anything." CHOICE C: "I do need to document this conversation for HR, given the missed deadlines. I'll send you a summary email." | TRIGGER A (Best): On click Choice A → Set choice_3 = "best" Adjust score = score + 2 Jump to Slide 8A TRIGGER B (Okay): On click Choice B → Set choice_3 = "okay" Adjust score = score + 1 Jump to Slide 8B TRIGGER C (Poor): On click Choice C → Set choice_3 = "poor" Adjust score = score + 0 Jump to Slide 8C | 8A / 8B / 8C ENDINGS | ENDINGS | ENDINGS | ENDINGS | ENDINGS | ENDINGS 8A | Ending (Best) | Jordan smiling slightly — genuine relief and engagement. Manager POV. Green result card overlay. | RESULT LABEL: ✅ Best Outcome JORDAN RESPONSE: "That sounds really good. Thank you for listening — I was honestly dreading this meeting." NARRATOR: "Jordan leaves the conversation feeling supported, clear on expectations, and — crucially — still trusting you as a manager. You've addressed the performance issue AND strengthened the relationship. That's what a great difficult conversation looks like." BUTTON: [See Your Results →] | TRIGGER: On click [See Your Results →] → Jump to Slide 9 | Slide 9 8B | Ending (Okay) | Jordan nods — polite but slightly uncertain expression. Amber result card. | RESULT LABEL: ⚠️ Okay Outcome JORDAN RESPONSE: "Okay. Thanks for talking." (Gets up to leave.) NARRATOR: "Jordan leaves with goodwill intact — but with no clear next steps, no specific goal, and uncertainty about what 'seeing how it goes' actually means. Without structure, the same pattern is likely to continue. 'Come find me if you need anything' puts all the initiative back on the person who is already struggling." BUTTON: [See Your Results →] | TRIGGER: On click [See Your Results →] → Jump to Slide 9 | Slide 9 8C | Ending (Poor) | Jordan looks blindsided — posture stiffens, expression shifts to alarm. Red result card. | RESULT LABEL: ❌ Trust Damaged JORDAN RESPONSE: "HR? I... I thought this was just a check-in." NARRATOR: "Bringing HR documentation into a first conversation about performance — especially after Jordan has been vulnerable — lands as a threat, not a process. Jordan now feels ambushed. The trust built during this conversation has been significantly damaged. Documentation may be necessary eventually, but announcing it here undoes the progress you made." BUTTON: [See Your Results →] | TRIGGER: On click [See Your Results →] → Jump to Slide 9 | Slide 9 DEBRIEF & COMPLETION | DEBRIEF & COMPLETION | DEBRIEF & COMPLETION | DEBRIEF & COMPLETION | DEBRIEF & COMPLETION | DEBRIEF & COMPLETION 9 | Debrief / Score | Clean debrief screen. Score displayed prominently. Choice summary below (shows what learner chose at each DP). Key takeaways section at bottom. Restart button optional. | TITLE: How Did You Do? SCORE DISPLAY (variable reference): "Your Score: %score% / 6" SCORE BANDS (show one based on score value): • 5–6: "Expert Communicator — You demonstrated empathy, specificity, and clear follow-through. That's the full picture." • 3–4: "Developing — You showed good instincts in some moments. A few tweaks would make a real difference." • 0–2: "Keep Practicing — Difficult conversations are a skill, not a talent. Review the feedback on each decision and try again." CHOICE SUMMARY: Decision 1: %choice_1% — [brief label of what they chose] Decision 2: %choice_2% — [brief label of what they chose] Decision 3: %choice_3% — [brief label of what they chose] KEY TAKEAWAYS: 1. Open with behavior, not character — and ask before you conclude. 2. Listen fully before solving — 'tell me more' is underused. 3. Close with a specific action and a follow-up commitment — not an open door. BUTTON: [Restart Scenario] (optional) BUTTON: [Finish] | TRIGGER: On timeline start → SCORM reports completion status = "completed" (completion fires regardless of score — any ending = complete) TRIGGER [Finish]: On click → Exit course / close window TRIGGER [Restart]: On click → Set score = 0 Set choice_1 = "" Set choice_2 = "" Set choice_3 = "" Set attempts_dp1 = 0 Jump to Slide 1 VARIABLE DISPLAY: Show %score% in score field Show %choice_1%, %choice_2%, %choice_3% in summary Use conditional states on score band text box: State "Expert" = visible when score >= 5 State "Developing" = visible when score >= 3 AND score <= 4 State "Practice" = visible when score <= 2 | Exit / Slide 1

onEnterFrame/FULL-course2-difficult-conversations-storyline.md

Select an option

No results found

Select an option

No results found