CONFLICT THESAURUS

RECEIVING A BAD PERFORMANCE REVIEW



Never struggle with Show-and-Tell again. Activate your free trial or subscribe to view the Conflict Thesaurus in its entirety, or visit the Table of Contents to explore unlocked entries.

CHOOSE MY PLAN

HELPFUL TIP:

Conflict is your story’s secret sauce, supplying tension, friction, and complications to a character’s journey. It comes in a million different forms, so identify the obstacles and problems that will hit your character the hardest by using the Character Builder to uncover their primary insecurities, fears , and desires. Don’t forget to include everyday conflict scenarios that will frustrate them and keep the pressure high.
CATEGORY:
Duty and responsibility, relationship friction, failures and mistakes, loss of control, power struggles, ego-related conflict

EXAMPLES:
The character's business receiving a one-star review from a disgruntled customer 
Having an uncomfortable conversation with a manager about one's lackluster sales
One's play being torn apart by critics in the media
The character receiving a long, painful-to-read review of their book that attacks their storytelling abilities
A bad review of the character's just-released video game citing numerous bugs and poor design
A homeowner pointing out imperfections in the character's remodeling work
A sports broadcaster running down a player's performance during a televised event
A reporter running an exposé on an ethics or privacy breach in the character's business 
Being yelled at by the coach in the dressing room after a difficult loss
A date telling people that a sexual interlude with the character was disappointing

MINOR COMPLICATIONS:
Feeling embarrassed over receiving negative judgment
Being placed on an action plan for improvement
Having to attend further training 
Being ridiculed by colleagues
Feeling misunderstood
Being unhappy with work
Needing to attend retraining or upgrade one's education in a specific area
Having to take on extra practices or workouts
Having to work longer hours to make up for lost time
Loss of income from not getting promotions or bonuses

POTENTIALLY DISASTROUS RESULTS:
...

RESULTING EMOTIONS:
...

POSSIBLE INTERNAL STRUGGLES:
...

PEOPLE WHO COULD BE NEGATIVELY AFFECTED:
...

NEGATIVE TRAITS THAT COULD MAKE THE SITUATION WORSE:
...

IMPACT ON BASIC NEEDS:
...

WOUNDS THIS COULD LEAD TO:
...

POSITIVE TRAITS TO HELP THE CHARACTER COPE:
...

POSITIVE OUTCOMES:
...