Entry point:
/faion-net— invoke this skill for automatic routing to the appropriate domain.
Faion Communicator
Communication: User's language.
Universal communication skill for effective dialogue with stakeholders, customers, team members, and decision-makers. From requirements gathering to selling ideas.
Decision Tree: Quick Routing
| If you need... | Use | File |
|---|---|---|
| Customer validation | The Mom Test | mom-test |
| Requirements gathering | Stakeholder Communication | stakeholder-communication |
| Deep understanding | Active Listening (RASA) | active-listening |
| Resolve conflict | Thomas-Kilmann, NVC | conflict-resolution |
| Give feedback | SBI, Radical Candor | feedback |
| Receive feedback | Listen, clarify, thank | feedback |
| Pitch to executives | Pyramid Principle, SCQA | selling-ideas + business-storytelling |
| Technical persuasion | Evidence-based | selling-ideas |
| Sales context | SPIN Selling, Challenger | selling-ideas |
| Performance issues | Crucial Conversations | difficult-conversations |
| Deliver bad news | Direct, empathetic | difficult-conversations |
| Negotiate contract | BATNA, Principled | negotiation |
| Generate ideas (group) | Classic, 6-3-5, Round Robin | brainstorming-ideation |
| Generate ideas (solo) | SCAMPER, Mind Mapping | brainstorming-ideation |
By stakeholder:
- Customers → mom-test | Executives → selling-ideas + business-storytelling
- Team → feedback | Peers → conflict-resolution | External → stakeholder-communication
Common sequences:
- Customer discovery: mom-test → active-listening → stakeholder-communication
- Difficult feedback: feedback → difficult-conversations → active-listening
- Proposal/pitch: selling-ideas → business-storytelling → negotiation
Overview
This skill provides communication methodologies for:
- Stakeholder Dialogue - Interview, brainstorm, clarify, validate
- Customer Validation - The Mom Test, discovery interviews
- Conflict Resolution - Thomas-Kilmann modes, NVC
- Feedback - SBI, Radical Candor, receiving feedback
- Selling Ideas - SPIN, Challenger, pitching techniques
- Storytelling - Pyramid Principle, SCQA, Pixar
- Negotiation - Principled negotiation, persuasion
- Difficult Conversations - Crucial conversations framework
- Brainstorming - SCAMPER, Mind Mapping, 6-3-5, facilitation
Context Discovery
Auto-Investigation
| Signal | Check For | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Meeting notes | Interview transcripts, stakeholder feedback | Communication patterns |
| User research docs | Customer validation notes | Mom Test usage |
| Pitch decks | Presentation structure (SCQA, Pyramid) | Storytelling approach |
| Feedback documents | SBI format, 1-on-1 notes | Feedback culture |
| Conflict logs | Issue resolution patterns | Conflict style |
Discovery Questions
questions:
- question: "What's your communication goal?"
options:
- label: "Gather requirements"
description: "Use active-listening, stakeholder-communication"
- label: "Validate business idea"
description: "Use mom-test"
- label: "Resolve conflict"
description: "Use conflict-resolution, difficult-conversations"
- label: "Give/receive feedback"
description: "Use feedback (SBI, Radical Candor)"
- label: "Pitch or persuade"
description: "Use selling-ideas, business-storytelling"
- question: "Who is your audience?"
options:
- label: "Customers/users"
description: "Favor mom-test, active-listening"
- label: "Executives/stakeholders"
description: "Favor selling-ideas, business-storytelling"
- label: "Team members"
description: "Favor feedback, conflict-resolution"
- label: "External partners"
description: "Favor negotiation, stakeholder-communication"
- question: "What's the context?"
options:
- label: "Discovery/research phase"
description: "Use mom-test, active-listening"
- label: "Decision-making"
description: "Use selling-ideas, negotiation"
- label: "Performance/sensitive topic"
description: "Use difficult-conversations, feedback"
- label: "Idea generation"
description: "Use brainstorming-ideation"
When to Use
| Situation | Methodology |
|---|---|
| Gathering requirements | active-listening, stakeholder-communication |
| Validating business ideas | mom-test |
| Team disagreements | conflict-resolution |
| Performance reviews | feedback |
| Pitching to stakeholders | selling-ideas |
| Presentations | business-storytelling |
| Contract discussions | negotiation |
| Sensitive topics | difficult-conversations |
| Generating ideas | brainstorming-ideation |
All Methodologies (10)
| Name | Key Frameworks | File |
|---|---|---|
| Active Listening | RASA, Empathic Listening, Reflective | active-listening |
| The Mom Test | Rob Fitzpatrick's validation | mom-test |
| Stakeholder Communication | Interview, Brainstorm, Clarify, Validate, Socratic | stakeholder-communication |
| Conflict Resolution | Thomas-Kilmann, NVC | conflict-resolution |
| Giving & Receiving Feedback | SBI, SBII, Radical Candor, EEC | feedback |
| Selling Ideas | SPIN Selling, Challenger Sale, Elevator Pitch | selling-ideas |
| Business Storytelling | Pyramid Principle, SCQA, Pixar Framework | business-storytelling |
| Negotiation & Persuasion | Principled Negotiation, BATNA, Cialdini's 6 | negotiation |
| Difficult Conversations | Crucial Conversations, DESC Script | difficult-conversations |
| Brainstorming & Ideation | SCAMPER, Mind Mapping, 6-3-5, Reverse | brainstorming-ideation |
Quick Reference
Active Listening: RASA
Receive → Appreciate → Summarize → Ask
The Mom Test: 3 Rules
- Talk about their life, not your idea
- Ask about past specifics, not future hypotheticals
- Talk less, listen more
Thomas-Kilmann: 5 Modes
Competing | Collaborating | Compromising | Avoiding | Accommodating
Radical Candor: 2 Dimensions
Care Personally + Challenge Directly = Radical Candor
SPIN: 4 Question Types
Situation → Problem → Implication → Need-Payoff
Pyramid Principle: Structure
Lead with answer → Support with arguments → Base with evidence
Brainstorming: Osborn's 4 Rules
- Defer judgment
- Go for quantity
- Encourage wild ideas
- Build on others' ideas
Integration with Faion Network
Used by Skills
| Skill | Uses Methodologies |
|---|---|
| faion-business-analyst | active-listening, stakeholder-communication, conflict-resolution, brainstorming-ideation |
| faion-product-manager | mom-test, selling-ideas, business-storytelling, brainstorming-ideation |
| faion-project-manager | conflict-resolution, feedback, negotiation |
| faion-researcher | mom-test, stakeholder-communication, brainstorming-ideation |
| faion-marketing-manager | selling-ideas, business-storytelling |
| faion-ux-ui-designer | active-listening, stakeholder-communication, brainstorming-ideation |
Interactive Mode (faion-net)
When faion-net runs in Interactive mode, use these methodologies:
# For requirements gathering
Apply: active-listening + stakeholder-communication
# For idea validation
Apply: mom-test
# For presenting proposals
Apply: selling-ideas + business-storytelling
# For disagreements
Apply: conflict-resolution
# For idea generation
Apply: brainstorming-ideation
References
Research sources:
- The Mom Test by Rob Fitzpatrick
- Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Model
- SBI Feedback Model
- Radical Candor by Kim Scott
- SPIN Selling by Neil Rackham
- Challenger Sale by Dixon & Adamson
- Pyramid Principle by Barbara Minto
- SCQA Framework
- Pixar Storytelling Framework
- Crucial Conversations by Patterson et al.
- SCAMPER by Bob Eberle
Faion Communicator v2.0.0 10 Methodologies | From Requirements to Negotiation