**Dealing with Difficult Conversations at Work**
**Dealing with Difficult Conversations at Work**
Location: Adelaide
You know that sinking feeling when you see someone's name pop up on your calendar and you immediately think "Oh no, not this again." Maybe it's the team member who gets defensive every time you give feedback, or the colleague who keeps missing deadlines but somehow makes it everyone else's fault. We've all been there - avoiding that conversation you know needs to happen because honestly, who wants to deal with the drama?
Here's the thing though: those conversations you're putting off? They're not going away. In fact, they're probably getting worse while you're hoping they'll magically sort themselves out. That project deadline that got missed three times running isn't going to fix itself, and neither is the team member who keeps undermining decisions in meetings.
I've been helping managers and team leaders navigate these tricky waters for over fifteen years, and I can tell you this much - once you learn how to handle these conversations properly, work becomes so much easier. You'll stop dreading Monday morning catch-ups and actually look forward to clearing the air instead of letting things fester.
This isn't about becoming some corporate robot who speaks in HR-approved soundbites. It's about having real, honest conversations that actually solve problems instead of creating more of them. You'll learn how to address issues head-on without making people feel attacked, how to stay calm when someone starts getting emotional, and how to turn what could be a nightmare conversation into something productive.
The practical stuff we cover comes from real workplace situations - not theoretical scenarios from a textbook. Like how to handle it when someone completely shuts down mid-conversation, or what to do when they start bringing up every grievance from the past five years. We'll work through the exact phrases that help de-escalate tension and the body language that shows you're listening, not judging.
You'll also get comfortable with those awkward pauses that happen when you've said something someone doesn't want to hear. Most people rush to fill the silence, but learning to sit with it? That's where the real breakthroughs happen. We'll practice dealing with hostility in a way that doesn't escalate the situation.
**What You'll Learn**
By the end of this session, you'll know how to prepare for difficult conversations so you don't go in guns blazing. You'll have a toolkit of phrases that help people open up instead of shut down, and you'll understand how to keep things focused on solutions rather than blame. We'll cover how to handle emotional reactions without taking them personally, and how to follow up afterwards to make sure things actually improve.
You'll learn the difference between being direct and being harsh, and how to deliver tough messages in a way that preserves relationships. Most importantly, you'll stop avoiding these conversations and start seeing them as opportunities to clear the air and move forward.
This includes understanding when to have these conversations privately versus in a group setting, how to document important discussions appropriately, and how to know when you might need additional support from your supervisor or HR.
**The Bottom Line**
After this training, those conversations you've been putting off won't feel so scary anymore. You'll have the confidence to address issues when they're small instead of waiting until they explode. Your team will respect you more because they'll know where they stand, and you'll sleep better at night knowing you're not avoiding problems that need solving.
The best part? Once word gets around that you handle these situations well, people will actually come to you for help instead of letting problems drag on. You'll become the manager people want to work for because they know you'll deal with issues fairly and directly. That's worth its weight in gold in any workplace.