Difficult conversations are part of working life. They may involve disagreement, competing priorities, unclear expectations, performance concerns, feedback, negotiation, or situations where relationships need to continue after the conversation ends.
This course is designed to help participants approach those moments with more structure, clarity, tact, and confidence. Rather than avoiding difficult conversations or relying only on instinct, participants will learn practical tools for preparing, communicating, listening, managing tension, and working toward better outcomes.
The course is interactive and discussion-based, with opportunities to apply the ideas to realistic workplace situations.
This course is designed for people who want to strengthen their ability to handle challenging workplace conversations.
It may be especially useful for people who need to:
manage disagreement without escalating conflict
communicate clearly when emotions or stakes are high
negotiate more thoughtfully and effectively
give or receive difficult feedback
handle tension, misunderstandings, or competing priorities
lead conversations where relationships matter
By the end of the course, participants will be better able to:
identify why difficult conversations often go wrong
prepare more effectively before high-stakes conversations
communicate with greater clarity, confidence, and tact
listen more strategically and ask better questions
manage disagreement and tension more productively
apply negotiation principles to workplace conversations
lead difficult conversations with a more structured approach
develop a personal action plan for future communication challenges
Session 1: Foundations for Difficult Conversations
Why difficult conversations go wrong; common triggers and communication pitfalls; frameworks for preparing and structuring a difficult conversation.
Session 2: Negotiation Fundamentals
Understanding positions vs. interests; preparing for negotiation; identifying trade-offs; approaching negotiation strategically and constructively.
Session 3: Conflict Management in Professional Settings
Understanding sources of conflict; responding productively to disagreement; handling defensiveness, resistance, and misalignment.
Session 4: Communicating Clearly Under Pressure
Staying calm and focused in tense situations; listening strategically; asking better questions; managing tone, clarity, and intent.
Session 5: Leading Challenging Conversations
Giving difficult feedback; addressing performance or behavior concerns; navigating sensitive conversations with tact and clarity.
Session 6: Integration and Application
Pulling key ideas together; applying them to realistic workplace scenarios; structured practice, reflection, and personal action planning.
