Managing Difficult Conversations Training - Perth

Managing Difficult Conversations Training - Perth

You know that sinking feeling when you spot their name on your calendar and think "here we go again"? Whether it's the colleague who always shoots down ideas, the client who questions every invoice, or the team member who takes everything personally – we've all got those conversations we'd rather avoid. But here's the thing: dodging difficult conversations doesn't make them disappear. It just makes them harder when you finally can't avoid them anymore.

I've been training managers and team leaders for over fifteen years, and I can tell you that the ability to handle tough conversations well is what separates good leaders from great ones. Not because they enjoy conflict – nobody does – but because they've learned how to navigate these situations without losing their cool, damaging relationships, or compromising results.

This isn't about becoming a confrontation specialist or learning clever psychological tricks. It's about developing practical skills that work in real workplace situations. Like when your star performer starts missing deadlines, when a colleague keeps interrupting you in meetings, or when you need to tell someone their behaviour is affecting the whole team. These are the moments that test us, and honestly, most of us weren't taught how to handle them effectively.

The reality is that difficult conversations happen whether we're prepared or not. The difference is whether you walk away feeling like you handled it well or spend the next week replaying what you should have said differently. I've seen managers avoid giving feedback for months because they didn't know how to start the conversation. I've watched teams fall apart because nobody addressed the elephant in the room. And I've seen careers stall because someone couldn't find their voice when it mattered.

What you'll learn in this training goes beyond theory. We'll work through actual scenarios you're likely to face – from addressing poor performance to managing personality clashes, from saying no to unreasonable requests to delivering bad news that needs to be heard. You'll practice managing difficult conversations in a safe environment where you can make mistakes and learn from them.

What You'll Learn

How to prepare for difficult conversations so you're not winging it in the moment. This includes knowing what you want to achieve, anticipating likely responses, and choosing the right time and place.

Techniques for staying calm and focused when emotions run high – yours and theirs. You'll learn breathing techniques, grounding strategies, and how to pause effectively without losing momentum.

The art of listening actively when someone's defensive or upset. Most people think difficult conversations are about talking, but often the breakthrough happens when you truly hear what the other person is saying.

How to deliver difficult messages clearly and kindly. There's a skill to being direct without being harsh, and honest without being brutal.

Strategies for keeping conversations on track when they start to spiral. We'll cover how to redirect, refocus, and reset when things go sideways.

Ways to find common ground even when you fundamentally disagree. You'd be surprised how often this is possible once you know what to look for.

Follow-up techniques that ensure the conversation leads to actual change rather than just clearing the air temporarily.

You'll also learn to recognise your own triggers and patterns. Maybe you get defensive when questioned, or perhaps you avoid conflict until you explode. Understanding your default responses is half the battle in changing them.

We'll practice conflict resolution skills through role-playing exercises based on real workplace scenarios. You'll get feedback on your approach and see what works and what doesn't in a supportive environment.

The Bottom Line

After this training, you won't dread difficult conversations quite as much. You'll have a toolkit of strategies that work, plus the confidence that comes from practice. More importantly, you'll be able to address issues before they become bigger problems. Your relationships will be stronger because you're dealing with things directly rather than letting resentment build up.

This isn't about becoming someone you're not – it's about becoming more effective at handling the challenging parts of working with people. Because at the end of the day, avoiding difficult conversations doesn't make you nicer – it just makes you less helpful to the people who need honest feedback to grow and improve.

The skills you'll develop here will serve you in every area of your working life. From performance management to client relationships, from team dynamics to stakeholder negotiations – the ability to have honest, productive conversations when stakes are high is one of the most valuable skills you can develop.

Available in Perth, with hands-on practice, real-world examples, and strategies you can start using immediately.