Managing Difficult Conversations - Perth

Managing Difficult Conversations - Perth

You know that feeling when you see Sarah's name pop up on your calendar for a "quick chat" and your stomach drops? We've all been there. Whether it's giving feedback to someone who gets defensive, having to discuss missed deadlines with a team member who always has an excuse, or addressing behavior that's affecting the whole team, difficult conversations are part of working life. The problem is, most of us weren't taught how to handle them properly.

Here's what typically happens: we either avoid the conversation entirely (letting problems fester), or we dive in unprepared and things go sideways fast. Maybe you've experienced the colleague who shuts down completely, the one who gets aggressive, or worse - the person who seems to agree but nothing actually changes. Sound familiar?

This course isn't about becoming confrontational or learning corporate speak. It's about real skills for real situations. You'll learn how to have those tough conversations in a way that actually gets results while keeping relationships intact. We cover everything from preparing for the conversation (because winging it rarely works) to handling emotional reactions when they happen.

The techniques we teach work whether you're dealing with performance issues, conflict resolution between team members, giving constructive feedback, or addressing behavior problems. You'll practice with scenarios that mirror what you're actually facing at work - not role-plays about theoretical situations that bear no resemblance to your reality.

What You'll Learn:
- How to prepare for difficult conversations so you feel confident going in
- Specific language techniques that reduce defensiveness and keep discussions productive
- Ways to handle emotional reactions (both yours and theirs) without the conversation derailing
- How to follow up effectively so agreements actually stick
- Strategies for different personality types and challenging behaviors
- When and how to involve HR or senior management appropriately

We'll also tackle the stuff that makes conversations really difficult - like when someone has been getting away with poor behavior for ages, when you're dealing with someone more senior than you, or when personal relationships are involved. You'll leave with practical frameworks you can use immediately, not just theory.

The Bottom Line:
Stop dreading those conversations that need to happen. You'll gain the confidence and skills to address issues head-on, professionally, and effectively. Most participants tell us they wish they'd learned these techniques years ago - it would have saved them countless sleepless nights and workplace stress.