Manager in R & D, highly regarded, soon to be promoted, wanted to brush up his skills. Didn't like having to be firm with or critical of people. He was so aware of the risk of undermining them that he sometimes failed to do justice to the issue he wanted to raise. He needed to learn how to be firm but fair, strong on the issue without attacking or undermining the person. His management training need was to learn to be assertive without being aggressive.