Managing Difficult Conversations Training - Perth

Managing Difficult Conversations Training - Perth

You know that sinking feeling when you see someone's name pop up on your calendar and immediately think "Oh great, here we go again"? Or when you're walking past the lunch room and catch someone mid-complaint about that project you're managing? We've all been there - stuck in conversations that feel like verbal minefields where one wrong word could set everything off.

The reality is, difficult conversations aren't going away. Whether it's telling a colleague their work isn't up to scratch, addressing someone who constantly interrupts in meetings, or dealing with a team member who's been spreading negativity, these situations happen weekly (sometimes daily) in most workplaces. The problem isn't that these conversations exist - it's that most of us handle them about as gracefully as a bull in a china shop.

Here's what I've learned after years of helping teams navigate these tricky waters: the conversations you're avoiding are usually the ones costing you the most. That project that's behind schedule because nobody wants to address the elephant in the room? The team morale that's tanking because one person's behaviour is affecting everyone else? The client relationship that's deteriorating because feedback isn't being communicated properly? All of these stem from our natural tendency to sidestep uncomfortable discussions.

This isn't about becoming a confrontational person or enjoying conflict - quite the opposite. It's about developing the skills to have these conversations in a way that actually solves problems rather than creating bigger ones. You'll learn how to prepare for difficult discussions (because winging it rarely works), how to keep things focused on outcomes rather than personalities, and how to handle the emotional reactions that inevitably come up.

What You'll Learn

You'll walk away knowing how to plan these conversations so they don't catch you off guard. We'll cover the specific language that helps people stay open instead of getting defensive, and you'll practice techniques for managing your own stress when things get heated. You'll also learn how to read the room - recognizing when someone's shutting down versus when they're ready to engage, and knowing when to push through resistance versus when to take a strategic pause.

We'll spend time on the follow-up too, because managing difficult conversations doesn't end when the meeting does. You'll learn how to document these discussions appropriately, how to check in afterward without being annoying, and how to rebuild working relationships when they've been strained.

The training includes real workplace scenarios - not theoretical examples about fictional employees. We'll work through situations like addressing poor performance without demotivating someone, giving feedback to people who outrank you, and dealing with colleagues who consistently miss deadlines. You'll practice these conversations in a safe environment where you can make mistakes and get feedback before you're in the real situation.

One thing that surprises people is how much time we spend on managing your own emotional reactions. When someone gets defensive or starts raising their voice, your natural instincts rarely lead to productive outcomes. You'll learn practical techniques for staying calm and professional even when the other person isn't, and how to use conflict resolution strategies that actually de-escalate tension rather than making it worse.

The Bottom Line

After this training, you'll stop dreading those challenging conversations and start seeing them as just another workplace skill. You'll have a clear process for preparing and conducting these discussions, practical language that gets results, and techniques for managing the emotional side of conflict. Most importantly, you'll stop letting problems fester because you're avoiding the conversation - instead, you'll address issues early when they're easier to resolve.

Your team relationships will improve because people will trust that you can handle difficult topics professionally. Your stress levels will drop because you're not constantly worrying about unresolved issues. And honestly, you'll probably find that most of these conversations aren't nearly as terrible as you imagined they'd be once you know how to handle them properly.