Managing Difficult Conversations Training

Managing Difficult Conversations Training

You know that sinking feeling when you need to address a performance issue with someone on your team, or when you have to deliver news that nobody wants to hear? We've all been there - sitting at our desk, rehearsing what we're going to say, putting it off until tomorrow, then putting it off again. The truth is, most of us would rather avoid these conversations altogether, but they're not going away.

Here's what usually happens: we either avoid the conversation completely (and watch the situation get worse), or we jump in unprepared and make things even more awkward. Sound familiar? You're not alone. I've seen managers lose sleep over having to tell someone their project got cancelled, or HR professionals dreading those restructure announcements.

The thing is, difficult conversations don't have to be career-ending disasters. When you know how to handle them properly, they actually become opportunities to build stronger relationships and solve problems before they spiral out of control. You'll stop dreading these moments and start seeing them as just another part of getting things done.

What You'll Learn

You'll walk away knowing exactly how to prepare for tough conversations without overthinking them. We'll cover how to start these discussions without making people defensive, which is honestly half the battle. You'll learn specific phrases that actually work (not the corporate speak that makes everyone's eyes glaze over), and how to keep things on track when emotions start running high.

We'll practice handling the most common scenarios you're probably facing right now - telling someone their work isn't meeting expectations, delivering bad news about budgets or timelines, addressing workplace behavior issues, and dealing with pushback when people don't like what they're hearing.

You'll also discover how to read the room and adjust your approach when things aren't going as planned. Plus, we'll cover the follow-up strategies that actually stick - because having the conversation is only half the job.

The Bottom Line

Look, you're going to have difficult conversations whether you want to or not. The only question is whether you'll handle them well or poorly. This training gives you a practical framework that works in real situations, not just in theory. You'll feel more confident walking into these discussions, and more importantly, you'll get better outcomes. Your team will respect you more for being direct and fair, and you'll stop losing sleep over conversations you need to have. Available in Melbourne and Brisbane, or online for your convenience.