SpeakUp Buddy™
An AI practice companion for Crucial Conversation® graduates
SpeakUp Buddy gives graduates a safe, practical space to practise Crucial Conversations® skills in realistic scenarios. It helps people build confidence, fluency, and consistency in how they apply the skills once they’re back in the workplace.
Confidence comes from practice
SpeakUp Buddy™ helps learners turn that understanding into confident action through structured, realistic practice.
With regular use, learners become better able to:
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How SpeakUp Buddy™ works
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Designed to embed Crucial Conversations® training
SpeakUp Buddy™ is purpose-built to support what happens after training.
It provides a practical way for graduates to continue using the skills, building judgement, confidence, and fluency over time. Rather than offering scripts or “perfect answers”, SpeakUp Buddy™ helps learners think through conversations, test their approach, and understand how their choices affect dialogue.
SpeakUp Buddy™ is commonly used:
- after training to reinforce and embed skills
- before difficult conversations as a refresher
- between workshops or coaching to sustain behaviour change
Training builds understanding. SpeakUp Buddy builds confidence in using the skills.
Is your investment in speak up skills making an impact?
SpeakUp Tracker™ enables your organisation to establish a communication baseline, measure long-term behavioural changes, and quantify the financial impact of embedding Crucial Conversations training as a measurable driver of organisational performance.
Measure the foundation of your speak up culture.
The baseline communication assessment uses a mix of perception and behavioural-based questions to evaluate your organization's current speak-up culture. You're able to examine key aspects of open communication, management accessibility, and employee comfort in speaking up.
- Quick setup: Launch our pre-made, confidential survey in minutes to start gathering insights
- Protect privacy: Ensure employee anonymity with a 5-person minimum per group
- Guide improvements: Identify strong and weak areas across your company to focus your efforts and measure progress over time
Quantify the behavioural impact of Crucial Conversations training
SpeakUp Tracker™ provides pre and post-training surveys allowing you to measure the real impact of your Crucial Conversations training and investment. By comparing behaviours and perceptions before and after training, you can demonstrate real change in your speak up culture.
- Measure progress: Compare communication skills before and after training to see real improvement
- Evaluate training: Assess how well the trainers teach and how much participants learn and use new skills
- Demonstrate ROI: Track long-term changes in workplace communication to prove the value of your training
Monitor your evolving speak up culture with automated pulse surveys
The SpeakUp Tracker™ pulse survey keeps you informed about your organisation's speak up health over time. Regular, automated check-ins with your training participants helps you identify trends, spot emerging issues, and celebrate improvements in your speak up culture.
- Regular check-ins: Deploy confidential pulse surveys on a schedule that works for your company
- See changes over time: Monitor how comfortable people feel speaking up and how behaviour shifts
- Act quickly: Spot areas that need immediate attention, allowing you to address issues promptly
Demonstrate the financial value of a strong speak up culture
SpeakUp Tracker's financial impact analysis helps you translate improved communication into tangible business outcomes. By linking speak up culture improvements to key organisational metrics, you'll have the evidence to support continued investment in your communication initiatives.
- Measure money saved: Calculate how much your company gains from improved communication training
- Link culture to results: Show how a better speak up environment affects important areas like retention, safety, and productivity
- Justify spending: Use real numbers to support your case for investing in communication improvement
How it works
Let’s talk about what would work best for your organisation
Every organisation faces different challenges when conversations matter most. A short conversation helps us understand your context and recommend the right delivery approach for your people.
Frequently asked questions
Is SpeakUp Buddy available in different languages?
It sure is. SpeakUp Buddy will start in English, then just ask it to speak in your language. We’ll eventually have tabs you can click on from the start, but this is a great start on ensuring every person doing Crucial Conversations has access to SpeakUp Buddy.
How long does access to SpeakUp Buddy last?
SpeakUp Buddy is typically provided with 90 days of access following Crucial Conversations training.
This aligns with how most learners use the tool, actively practicing skills in the period immediately after training. Access can be extended where ongoing practice or refresher use is desired.
For learners who completed training some time ago, SpeakUp Buddy is also effective as a 90-day refresh tool to rebuild confidence and fluency.
Where is data hosted, and are there data residency options?
SpeakUp Buddy offers data residency and single-tenant infrastructure options for organisations with specialised security or regulatory needs, such as those in health, finance, or government environments.
These options are available on request and can be discussed during implementation planning.
What security standards does SpeakUp Buddy meet?
SpeakUp Buddy follows established security and privacy best practices.
- Independent third-party security audits are conducted regularly
- ISO 27001 and SOC 2 compliance programs are currently underway
- Additional certifications related to responsible AI use are in progress
- A dedicated Trust Centre is available to support security and privacy reviews
For organisations with advanced requirements, additional security documentation can be provided.
How does access and sign-in work?
SpeakUp Buddy is typically accessed through the organisation’s existing learning environment or training pathway.
It does not require learners to create new accounts or manage separate credentials. Authentication and access are handled through the organisation’s own systems, reducing friction and simplifying administration.
What data does SpeakUp Buddy collect or store?
SpeakUp Buddy is designed with learner safety and privacy in mind.
- The tool is stateless, meaning it does not retain learner conversations
- No personally identifiable or commercially sensitive information is stored
- Learners and organisations retain ownership of their intellectual property
- The AI has no memory of previous interactions
This ensures practice remains private, safe, and low risk.
Does the AI write responses or tell learners what to say?
No. SpeakUp Buddy does not generate scripts or provide “perfect answers”.
Learners practice responding in their own words. The AI provides feedback aligned to the Crucial model, focusing on skill choice, clarity of intent, and impact on dialogue - helping learners build judgement rather than dependency.
Is SpeakUp Buddy a replacement for Crucial Conversations training?
No. SpeakUp Buddy is not a training course or content replacement. It is a post-training practice tool designed to help learners apply and embed the skills they’ve already learned in Crucial Conversations.
Training builds understanding. SpeakUp Buddy supports ongoing application.
Who is SpeakUp Buddy designed for?
SpeakUp Buddy is designed specifically for graduates of Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue. It supports post-training practice and skill reinforcement, helping learners build confidence using the Crucial model in real workplace situations.
