Managing difficult conversations

Difficult conversations are a part of life – both professionally and personally. When we do them well, we can strengthen relationships, build trust and create commitment. However when we avoid them or approach them with the wrong intentions or mindset we inevitably further damage relationships and ultimately make a bad situation far worse!

By the end of this session, you will have considered what makes a difficult conversation “difficult”, explored the importance of approaching with curiosity and developed approaches for building safety and working with emotions. We’ll share a simple and pragmatic approach to preparing for the conversation, support you in actually making the first steps and getting the conversation going in a healthy direction PLUS explore what you can do when things start to go wrong.

You will leave with commitment, confidence and real-world tools you can use in both your professional and private life.

• What is a difficult conversation? And what makes them difficult?
• The importance of psychological safety
• The anatomy of a difficult conversation
• Finding the right mindset before you start talking
• Starting the conversation with confidence
• Ensuring the presence of TRUE behaviours
• Saving everyone when things go wrong
• Action planning & transferring the training back to your workplace