getting people to do things

Recently I was Staff Development seminar. The leader shared what I think is a helpful progression of steps when communicating with someone about a task that needs to be done.
He suggest four steps, they start from less direct and end up very direct. He suggested that the partnership between a manager and a sub-ordinate needs to be 51/49, that is we are in a partnership and need to work together, but in the end the manager is the senior partner and in the end is responsible for the final decision.
Stage 1: Self Awareness - Have a discussion that is based around helping the person be aware of their responsibilities. At this stage most of the ideas should come from the sub-ordinate person.
Stage 2: We - A more direct conversation style is needed when the person does not display Self Awareness of the task(s) that need to be completed and the quality at which they need to be completed. A WE conversation is something like, "We need to ..." The WE communicates that you are having a bigger input but that you are still wanting their input.
Stage 3: I - If WE didn't get satisfactory results then you need to move to "I would like you ...". The emphasis is now on what you expect but is still encouraging their input.
Stage 4: You - This is the most direct stage where you say, "You must ...". This stage is only used once the earlier stages have not worked or when the time frame does not allow the other stages to take place.