Difficult Conversations at Work

Difficult Conversations at Work

You know that feeling when your stomach drops because you need to address something uncomfortable with a colleague, but you keep putting it off? Maybe it's telling a team member their work isn't up to standard, or having to explain to your boss why that project went sideways. We've all been there - staring at our computer screen, crafting and re-crafting emails we never send, or practicing conversations in our heads that never quite go the way we planned.

Here's the thing - avoiding these conversations doesn't make them disappear. If anything, they usually get worse. That project deadline becomes even tighter, the team dynamics get more strained, and suddenly you're dealing with a full-blown crisis instead of a manageable issue. I've seen this happen countless times in my years of training people across different industries, and it's always the same story: "I wish I'd addressed this sooner."

This course isn't about learning fancy negotiation tactics or becoming some corporate conflict resolution expert. It's about giving you practical tools that actually work when you're sitting across from someone and need to have a real conversation. You'll learn how to prep for these discussions without overthinking them to death, how to stay calm when emotions start running high, and most importantly, how to get to solutions rather than just airing grievances.

We'll work through real scenarios - like when a colleague consistently misses deadlines and it's affecting your workload, or when you need to give feedback to someone who gets defensive. You'll practice the exact words to use when someone pushes back or tries to derail the conversation. And we'll cover what to do when things don't go according to plan, because let's be honest, they rarely do.

The best part? We focus on having these conversations in a way that actually strengthens your working relationships rather than damaging them. It's possible to be direct and honest while still being respectful and professional. You don't have to choose between being liked and being effective.

What You'll Learn

How to prepare for difficult conversations without scripting every word or overthinking yourself into paralysis. You'll get a simple framework that works whether you have five minutes or five days to prepare.

The exact phrases and language patterns that help people stay open to feedback instead of getting defensive. We'll cover what to say and, just as importantly, what not to say.

How to keep conversations on track when emotions escalate or when the other person tries to change the subject or deflect responsibility.

Strategies for following up after tough conversations to make sure agreements stick and relationships remain intact.

How to recognize when a conversation needs to happen versus when you should let something slide - because not every workplace annoyance needs to become a formal discussion.

Techniques for managing your own emotional reactions so you can stay professional even when the other person isn't being reasonable.

Ways to document and prepare for conversations that might need HR involvement, while still trying to resolve things at the interpersonal level first.

You'll also learn how effective supervising skills can prevent many difficult conversations from becoming necessary in the first place, and how strong business supervising skills help you address issues before they escalate.

The Bottom Line

Look, we all have to work with other people, and other people are complicated. You can't control how they're going to react, but you can control how you show up to these conversations. After this course, you'll stop dreading these discussions and start seeing them as normal parts of professional life. You'll have the confidence to address issues when they're still small and manageable, rather than waiting until they explode into major problems. And your colleagues will respect you more for being direct and honest, even when the topic is uncomfortable. These conversations will never be your favorite part of the job, but they won't keep you up at night anymore either.

Location: Brisbane