Managing Difficult Conversations - Perth

Managing Difficult Conversations - Perth

You know that sinking feeling when you see someone approaching your desk and you just know they're upset about something? Or when you've been putting off addressing a performance issue with a team member because you're dreading the conversation? We've all been there. Whether it's a colleague who constantly interrupts meetings, a client who's unhappy with your service, or having to deliver bad news to your team, difficult conversations are part of working life. The problem is, most of us never learned how to handle them properly, so we either avoid them completely or stumble through them making things worse.

Here's what I've learned from twenty years of helping people navigate workplace conflicts: the conversations you're avoiding are usually the ones that matter most. When you know how to handle difficult discussions confidently, you'll actually find yourself having fewer of them because problems get resolved before they escalate. You'll stop losing sleep over confrontations at work, and people will start seeing you as someone who can be trusted with sensitive issues. The best part? Once you master these skills, you'll notice they work just as well with your family, friends, and anyone else in your life.

This training focuses on real workplace scenarios, not theoretical examples. We'll practice with situations like addressing a colleague who takes credit for your work, dealing with a client who's threatening to leave, managing a team member who's consistently late, or having to announce budget cuts to your department. You'll learn the exact words to use when someone gets defensive, how to stay calm when emotions run high, and most importantly, how to turn potential conflicts into productive conversations that actually strengthen relationships.

What You'll Learn

You'll discover how to prepare for difficult conversations so you feel confident instead of anxious. We'll cover the specific phrases that defuse tension and the body language signals that either escalate or calm situations down. You'll learn how to listen in a way that makes angry people feel heard, how to deliver tough messages without destroying relationships, and how to follow up afterwards to make sure problems stay solved. We'll also tackle the trickiest part - dealing with your own emotions when someone's being unreasonable or aggressive.

You'll practice managing difficult conversations using role-plays based on real workplace situations. By the end of the day, you'll have a toolkit of proven techniques that work whether you're dealing with upset customers, resistant colleagues, or team members who need feedback. Most importantly, you'll understand how to approach these conversations as opportunities to solve problems rather than battles to win.

The Bottom Line

Stop avoiding the conversations that could improve your work life. When you can handle difficult discussions professionally and confidently, you'll find that most workplace stress disappears. Your colleagues will respect you more, your boss will trust you with bigger responsibilities, and you'll actually look forward to resolving conflicts instead of dreading them. Plus, you'll save yourself hours of time management headaches because problems get sorted out quickly instead of dragging on for weeks.

Location: Perth