Navigating difficult conversations is an essential skill for all leaders

How many leaders have avoided a tough conversation because they didn’t know where to start or were worried about the response they might get?

Having the motivation, skills and confidence to handle difficult conversations is often one of the biggest challenges for even the most seasoned leader. This workshop aims to remove the fear factor from the difficult conversation and show how the right approach can help turn that tricky conversation into a constructive and caring dialogue.

Difficult conversations come in varied forms.

It could be addressing someone’s behaviour or work, relationship friction, breaking the news about redundancies, or telling someone they were unsuccessful for a promotion. Whatever the issue is, approaching these tricky conversations constructively is crucial for managers. A positive outcome can mean the difference between the team member becoming more engaged and productive or behaviours becoming more challenging and a fractured relationship.

In this advanced communication workshop, we aim to simplify the ‘drama’ and demystify the core of a difficult conversation to plan and deliver a constructive conversation well and achieve the outcome you want. No sandwich approach here!    

Difficult Conversations Workshop Objectives:

• The science behind cultivating high-quality connections.
• What conversations are difficult, and What’s at stake? Why is it hard?
• Recognise the most common mistakes we make when having a difficult conversation and know how to avoid them.
• Identifying positive intent and mutual ground
• Tips to prepare
• Cultivating empathetic listening
• Look beyond the immediate situation and get to the root of a problem
• Sustainable solutions: negotiate effectively and agree on a way forward

Difficult conversations are almost never about getting the facts right, they are about conflicting perceptions, interpretations, and values.