He didn't respect my position and considered me a partner rather than a superior. I believe this was because I was aware of his personal situation and was not honest with my supervisor about his lack of performance. The different approach I would take when handling difficult conversations: I would first set boundaries, keep the relationship professional, and be honest about the intern's job performance with my supervisor. I would also like to put a corrective plan in place, monitor and provide support. I will communicate via email so I have a paper trail for upper management. The strategies that would help me improve my communication skills are those recommended by Engles (2007b), the three phases that can be relied on to deal with any uncomfortable conversation. 1. Gain clarity on