Managing Difficult Conversations Training - Perth

Managing Difficult Conversations Training - Perth

You know that sinking feeling when you see someone's name pop up on your calendar for "a quick chat" and you just know it's going to be anything but quick or easy. Whether it's delivering bad news to a client, addressing poor performance with a team member, or having that awkward conversation with a colleague who keeps missing deadlines, we've all been there. You put it off, hope the problem resolves itself, or maybe you dive in and somehow make things worse. Sound familiar?

Here's the thing - difficult conversations don't have to be the workplace nightmare most of us think they are. After years of helping managers, team leaders, and frontline staff navigate these tricky waters, I've seen people transform from conversation-avoiders into confident communicators who actually look forward to resolving issues head-on.

The reality is that most of us never learned how to have these conversations properly. We either go in guns blazing and create conflict, or we're so worried about hurting feelings that we dance around the issue and nothing gets resolved. Neither approach works, and both leave everyone frustrated.

What you'll learn in this practical, no-nonsense session is how to structure conversations that get results without destroying relationships. We'll cover the preparation that makes all the difference, the opening lines that set the right tone, and how to keep things on track when emotions start running high. You'll practice handling common scenarios like performance issues, dealing with difficult behaviours, budget cuts, and those personality clashes that seem to poison team dynamics.

But this isn't just about having tough conversations with your team. We'll also tackle how to push back on unrealistic deadlines from your boss, negotiate with demanding clients, and have those honest discussions about workload and expectations that can transform your working relationships.

What You'll Learn:

How to prepare for difficult conversations so you feel confident and in control, not anxious and reactive. We'll give you a simple framework that works whether you're talking to your CEO or an upset customer.

The exact words and phrases that de-escalate tension and keep conversations productive, even when people get defensive or emotional.

How to deliver tough messages clearly and kindly - no more hoping people read between the lines or spending weeks wondering if they actually understood what you meant.

Strategies for managing your own emotions during heated discussions, including what to do when you feel yourself getting triggered or when the other person becomes aggressive.

How to turn complaints and conflicts into problem-solving sessions that actually strengthen working relationships.

Techniques for handling common workplace scenarios including performance reviews, project delays, resource conflicts, and those conversations about managing workplace anxiety that can affect team productivity.

The Bottom Line:

After this training, you'll have the confidence and skills to address issues early before they become major problems. You'll save yourself hours of stress and your team the frustration of unresolved conflicts. Most importantly, you'll build stronger working relationships based on honest, respectful communication rather than avoiding problems until they explode. This isn't about becoming confrontational - it's about becoming someone who can solve problems through conversation rather than letting them fester.

Location: Perth