Managing Difficult Conversations - Geelong

Managing Difficult Conversations - Geelong

You know that sinking feeling when you see your colleague's name pop up in your calendar for "that conversation" you've been putting off for weeks? Or when your boss schedules a "quick chat" and you instantly know it's about the project that went sideways last month? We've all been there. Whether it's addressing poor performance, dealing with a team member who's constantly negative, or having to deliver news that nobody wants to hear, difficult conversations are part of working life. The problem is, most of us would rather reorganise our entire filing system than actually have these talks.

Here's the thing though - avoiding these conversations doesn't make them go away. That underperforming team member isn't suddenly going to turn things around on their own. The client who's unhappy with your service isn't going to magically become satisfied if you just ignore their complaints. And that colleague who keeps taking credit for everyone else's work? They're not going to have a sudden change of heart without someone actually addressing it.

This training isn't about becoming a confrontation expert or learning how to "win" every argument at work. It's about getting practical tools that actually work when you're sitting across from someone and the conversation feels like it's about to go completely off the rails. You'll learn how to prepare for these talks so you're not just winging it and hoping for the best. We'll show you techniques for keeping discussions productive even when emotions are running high, and how to find solutions that both people can actually live with.

The reality is, managing difficult conversations isn't just a nice-to-have skill - it's essential for getting things done and maintaining your sanity at work. When you can handle these situations confidently, you'll find that problems get resolved faster, relationships improve, and you spend a lot less time stressed out about work drama.

What You'll Learn

How to prepare for difficult conversations so you're not caught off guard when emotions start flying. We'll cover what to think through beforehand, how to choose the right time and place, and what information you actually need before diving in.

Techniques for staying calm and focused when the other person gets defensive, angry, or shuts down completely. You'll practice ways to keep the conversation on track without making things worse.

How to listen in a way that actually helps the other person feel heard, even when you disagree with them. This sounds simple but it's harder than you think when someone's being defensive.

Methods for finding common ground and solutions that work for everyone involved. Not every conversation will end with everyone being best friends, but most can end with a clear path forward.

Ways to follow up after difficult conversations to make sure agreements actually stick and problems don't resurface three weeks later.

The Bottom Line

After this training, you'll have concrete strategies for handling those workplace conversations you've been dreading. You'll know how to address issues before they become major problems, how to keep discussions productive instead of personal, and how to manage workplace anxiety around conflict. Most importantly, you'll discover that having these conversations isn't nearly as scary as avoiding them - and the relief you'll feel when you can finally address issues head-on instead of letting them fester is worth the initial discomfort.