Managing Difficult Conversations

Managing Difficult Conversations
Location: Online

You know that knot in your stomach when you have to tell someone their work isn't up to scratch? Or when you need to address that colleague who keeps interrupting everyone in meetings? We've all been there - standing outside someone's office, rehearsing what we're going to say, hoping it goes better than last time. The truth is, most of us would rather have a root canal than have a difficult conversation at work.

Here's the thing though - avoiding these conversations doesn't make the problems disappear. It just makes them bigger, messier, and harder to deal with later. I've seen teams fall apart because nobody wanted to address the elephant in the room. I've watched great employees leave because their manager couldn't figure out how to give them constructive feedback without it turning into a disaster.

But here's what I've learned after twenty years of helping people through these exact situations: difficult conversations don't have to be difficult. When you know how to approach them properly, they become just another tool in your management toolkit. Some of the best working relationships I've seen have come out of conversations that started as really uncomfortable ones.

In this workshop, we're going to tackle the stuff that keeps you awake at night. How do you tell someone they're underperforming without destroying their confidence? How do you handle it when a conversation gets heated and you feel like you're losing control? What do you actually say when someone starts crying in your office? These aren't theoretical scenarios - these are the real situations you'll face, and we'll work through practical strategies that actually work.

You'll learn how to prepare for these conversations so you're not flying blind. We'll cover how to stay calm when things get emotional (because they will), and how to guide conversations toward solutions instead of just problems. Most importantly, you'll discover that dealing with difficult behaviours isn't about being the "bad guy" - it's about being clear, fair, and genuinely helpful.

One of the biggest game-changers is learning to separate the person from the issue. When you can address performance problems without attacking someone's character, everything changes. We'll practice scripts and frameworks that take the guesswork out of these conversations. You'll leave with actual words you can use, not just vague advice about "being diplomatic."

What You'll Learn

How to prepare for difficult conversations so you feel confident going in
Techniques to stay calm and professional when emotions run high
The exact words to use when addressing performance issues, attendance problems, or behavioural concerns
How to listen effectively when someone is defensive or upset
Ways to guide conversations toward productive solutions
Strategies for following up after difficult conversations to ensure lasting change
How to document these conversations properly to protect yourself and your organisation

We'll also dive into the common mistakes that make these conversations harder than they need to be. Like trying to sandwich bad news between compliments (spoiler alert: it doesn't work). Or using vague language that leaves people confused about what needs to change. These are the traps most managers fall into, and we'll show you how to avoid them.

The Bottom Line

After this training, you'll stop dreading those tough conversations and start seeing them as opportunities to help people grow and improve. You'll have the confidence to address issues early before they become major problems. Your team will respect you more because they'll know you care enough to be honest with them, and they'll trust that you'll handle things fairly. Most importantly, you'll sleep better knowing you can handle whatever workplace challenges come your way.

This isn't about becoming confrontational or aggressive - it's about becoming the kind of leader who can have honest, respectful conversations that actually solve problems. When you master this skill, everything else in your role becomes easier. Your team performs better, your stress levels drop, and you become the manager people actually want to work for. The ability to navigate difficult workplace situations with grace and effectiveness is what separates good managers from great ones.