Manager conversation training
Make room for real conversations at work
A year of practice for your leadership team, ten minutes a week. Real workplace moments, worked through together in the meetings you already run.
Why Sidebar
HR thinks managers are ready. Managers disagree.
The hardest conversations, like parental leave, caregiving, burnout and conflict, only come up a few times a year. So managers never get the practice. Sidebar gives them the reps, before it's real.
Source: Careerminds, The Leadership Readiness Gap, 2026
How it works
Pull a card. Talk it through. Coach each other.
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1
Pull a cardRead the scenario out loud. Every one is a real situation managers run into.
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2
Share what you'd doEach person says how they'd handle it, in their own words. The differences are the point.
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3
Flip it and coachThe back offers approaches to consider. Compare notes and sharpen how you'd respond.
About 10 minutes. Fits the top of any team meeting.
What's in the Team Kit
Everything you need to run it all year.
80-card deck
Real workplace scenarios, with approaches to consider on the back.
Facilitator guide
How to run a session, keep it safe, and get everyone talking.
12-month session plan
A card of the week, mapped out for the whole year.
Blank cards
Add the scenarios your team actually faces.
Confidence check
A before-and-after pulse to show managers are more ready.
Pre-order now · Limited quantities
Choose your Sidebar.
Team Kit
For HR and leadership teams
- 80-card scenario deck
- Facilitator guide
- 12-month session plan, with a card of the week
- Blank cards for your own scenarios
- Before-and-after manager confidence check
Deck Only
For coaches, consultants and facilitators
- 80-card scenario deck
- Use it in your own coaching sessions and workshops
Rolling out across several teams? Talk to us about team pricing and workshops.
About us
Built by people who've seen where manager training falls short.
Sidebar started when one of us was heading into maternity leave with no real guidance, and no one at work talking about it. Andrea turned her HR experience into Sidebar's proprietary competency framework, so every scenario reflects how great managers actually lead.
FAQ
Good questions.
When will my order ship?
Pre-orders ship within one month. We'll email you when yours is on its way.
How much time does it take?
About 10 minutes a week, at the top of a meeting you already run. It also works for longer sessions at offsites.
Do we need a trained facilitator?
No. The facilitator guide walks any leader through running a session and keeping it a safe space.
Is it only about parental leave and caregiving?
No. It covers the full range of moments managers face, from feedback and tough calls to burnout and conflict, across 7 competencies.
Team Kit or Deck Only?
The Team Kit has everything to run a full year with your leadership team. The Deck Only option suits coaches and consultants using it in their own sessions.
Can we order for several teams?
Yes. Talk to us about team pricing and workshops.
Still have questions? Email us at info@bettercompanyhq.com