Make room for the other version
Ask what the other person understood before assuming that you are arguing about the same facts. For a message about how to support someone on a performance improvement plan, use this factual base: acknowledge the specific loss, uncertainty, or process and avoid assumptions about performance or finances.
Correct the record precisely
Correct only what you can support, acknowledge any real impact, and propose a practical way to prevent repetition. Offer one practical connection, review, reference, or quiet check-in and let them choose the timing. Make the immediate next step clear enough that the recipient can answer without reconstructing the entire history.
Agree on a testable next step
Do not compare careers, ask intrusive money questions, or send opportunities before asking. Direct legal, immigration, discrimination, financial, or mental health risks to qualified support when needed. Do not recruit an audience, publish private evidence, or turn a misunderstanding into a campaign about character.