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Managing Difficult Conversations

$495.00

Managing Difficult Conversations

You know that sinking feeling when you need to address a performance issue with a team member, or when a client meeting is heading south and you can sense the tension building? We've all been there. Whether it's giving feedback that someone doesn't want to hear, dealing with a colleague who's defensive about everything, or navigating those awkward conversations about missed deadlines and unmet expectations - these situations are part of working life, but most of us weren't exactly taught how to handle them well.

The thing is, avoiding these conversations doesn't make them go away. They just get harder. That underperforming team member continues to drag down the whole team's morale. The client relationship deteriorates further. The workplace becomes increasingly uncomfortable for everyone involved. What you need are practical skills to turn these challenging moments into productive discussions that actually solve problems rather than create more of them.

This training gives you a toolkit of techniques that actually work in real workplace situations. We're not talking about theoretical models here - we're talking about what to say when someone gets defensive, how to keep your own emotions in check when things get heated, and how to structure these conversations so they lead to genuine resolution. You'll learn to read the warning signs before a conversation goes off track, and more importantly, how to steer it back to productive territory.

Through hands-on practice with realistic scenarios, you'll discover how to separate the person from the problem, how to ask questions that uncover the real issues, and how to find solutions that everyone can live with. We'll cover everything from dealing with difficult behaviours to managing your own stress response when conversations get uncomfortable.

What You'll Learn

You'll walk away knowing exactly how to prepare for tough conversations so you feel confident going in rather than dreading them. We'll show you specific phrases and techniques for de-escalating tension when emotions run high, plus how to listen in a way that makes the other person feel heard even when you disagree with them.

You'll practice giving feedback that people can actually use to improve, rather than feedback that makes them shut down or get defensive. We'll work on asking the right questions to get to the root of problems instead of just dealing with symptoms, and you'll learn how to find common ground even when it seems like you're on completely different pages.

Most importantly, you'll develop the confidence to have these conversations when they need to happen, rather than putting them off until the situation becomes crisis-level. We'll also cover how to follow up after difficult conversations to make sure the solutions you've agreed on actually stick.

The Bottom Line

After this training, those conversations you've been putting off won't feel quite so intimidating. You'll have practical tools you can use immediately, whether you're managing difficult conversations with direct reports, peers, or even your own manager. More than that, you'll find that these skills improve all your workplace relationships - because when people know you can handle tough topics professionally and fairly, they trust you more with everything else too.

Location: Adelaide