Managing Difficult Conversations - Brisbane

Managing Difficult Conversations - Brisbane

You know that sinking feeling when you see "we need to talk" in your calendar? Or when your team member's performance is slipping but you keep avoiding the conversation because, well, it's going to be awkward? I've been there. After 15 years of helping managers navigate these choppy waters, I can tell you that most of us would rather reorganise our desk drawers than have a tough conversation at work.

Here's the thing though - those conversations you're avoiding aren't going away. They're just getting worse. That underperforming team member? They probably don't even know there's a problem. Your colleague who keeps missing deadlines? They might think everything's fine. Meanwhile, you're losing sleep, your team's getting frustrated, and productivity is taking a hit.

This isn't about learning to be confrontational or becoming the office bad guy. It's about having the tools to address issues before they become crises. You'll discover how to give feedback that actually gets heard, not just endured. We'll cover how to stay calm when emotions run high (because let's face it, they will), and how to turn those dreaded conversations into opportunities for real improvement.

What makes this different from other dealing with difficult behaviours training is that we focus on real workplace scenarios. No role-playing as strangers - we'll work with the actual situations you're facing. Whether it's addressing poor performance, managing team conflicts, or delivering bad news, you'll practice with situations that matter to your job.

What You'll Learn

How to prepare for difficult conversations so you don't wing it and hope for the best. You'll get a simple framework that works whether you're talking to your boss, a peer, or someone you supervise. We'll show you how to stay focused on the issue, not the person, and how to keep conversations productive even when they get heated.

You'll master the art of giving feedback that doesn't crush people's spirits but actually motivates change. There's a huge difference between "you're always late" and feedback that helps someone understand the impact and gives them a clear path forward. We'll practice techniques for managing difficult conversations that build relationships rather than damage them.

Most importantly, you'll learn how to manage your own emotions and reactions. When someone gets defensive or upset, your natural instinct might be to back down or get defensive yourself. We'll give you strategies to stay grounded and keep the conversation on track, even when it feels like it's going sideways.

The Bottom Line

By the end of this session, you'll actually feel confident about having those conversations you've been putting off. You'll have a toolkit of practical techniques you can use immediately, whether it's addressing a performance issue on Monday morning or having that overdue conversation with a difficult stakeholder. Your team will benefit from clearer communication, and you'll sleep better knowing you can handle whatever workplace challenges come your way. No more avoiding the hard stuff - you'll be equipped to tackle it head-on, professionally and effectively.