Diagnostic Conversation Coach

The underlying leadership and change models worth knowing well enough to map a client's situation onto them live. Start here if you're new to this.

Named frameworks for common client scenarios, each with a sharp conversation hook and talking points that resonate.

Walk the six stages of a real diagnostic call. You'll hear what a client might actually say, choose how to respond, and see how similar moments have played out before.

Search whatever the client just said. Get a point of view, a follow-up question, and why it matters — built for mid-call reference.

Composite, illustrative learning designs showing how a diagnosis actually turns into a program.

Read short, opinionated field notes, or share your own diagnostic and design experience with everyone else using this.

A credential concept for people who can actually run a diagnostic conversation, not just complete a workshop.

Select a framework on the left for the explainer, how to map it in conversation, an example, and references.

Select a scenario on the left to rehearse its framework, conversation hook, and talking points.

Pick a stage on the left to start rehearsing.

Framing Signals

Competency Themes

Search or click what the client just said, or a competency they named, to see a point of view, the follow-up question, and why it matters.

These are composite, illustrative examples built from patterns across many engagements — not any single real client. All names and identifying details are invented.

Select an example on the left to see how a diagnosis turned into an actual design.

Select an article on the left. Each one opens as its own full page — worth bookmarking or sharing on its own.

Share your experience

Just closed a diagnostic call, shipped a design, or noticed a trend worth flagging? Tell us about it — good submissions may get featured back into this tool for everyone else using it. Submitting also signs you in so you can come back to it later.

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Thanks — got it. We read every one of these.

Certified Diagnostic Conversation Practitioner

In development. A concept for what comes after you've used this tool for a while — a real credential for people who can run a diagnostic conversation well, not just complete a workshop.

What it's meant to be

Most of what's in this tool — the frameworks, the signals, the coaching prompts — is designed to build one specific, learnable skill: the ability to diagnose a real business need in a live conversation, instead of designing from a generic brief. The certification is meant to be a way to prove you've actually built that skill, not just read about it.

How it's meant to work

The confidence ratings and reflections you're already leaving throughout this tool are the seed of this. The rough shape: demonstrate consistent, honest self-assessment across a working set of scenarios and frameworks, submit a small number of real (anonymized) diagnostic write-ups for review, and complete a live or recorded practice conversation evaluated against the same structure used throughout this tool — Context, Shift, How to Teach It, Outcome.

Who it's for

Learning architects, business development professionals, independent L&D consultants, and anyone whose job depends on diagnosing a real need before designing a solution for it — inside a company or out.

Where it stands today

Not yet built. If this is something you'd use — or you'd want your team to have — say so below and you'll hear first when it's ready.

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Diagnostic Conversation Coach

Learn the models

Rehearse the call

Reference it live

Turn it into a design

Share your experience

Certified Diagnostic Conversation Practitioner

Diagnosed the need. Now design the program.