Online and face to face training, coaching and events across the UK and Europe
Thrive Training Lab

Difficult Conversations

Address underperformance, behaviour issues and sensitive topics with a clear structure for calm, constructive conversations.

Leadership asks you to make decisions, support people and deliver results — sometimes all in the same conversation. You may be the person everyone looks to while still working out your own next step. Having developed hundreds of leaders across the UK, US and EMEA, we understand those competing demands. The Lab is space to think clearly, practise honestly and grow the confidence to lead in your own way.

Talk about your team Explore the course
Managers collaborating in a leadership workshop
Thrive Training Lab

Explore. Practise. Make it yours.

Duration

Half day · 3.5 hours per half day

Group size

6–8 delegates

Format

Online or face to face

Price — Face to face

From £1,250

+ VAT

Price — Online

From £999

+ VAT

where understanding becomes useful —

Why this course matters

The conversation you prepare well today can prevent an unresolved issue becoming tomorrow's team problem.

What you’ll explore in the Lab

Avoiding difficult conversations can leave underperformance unresolved, behaviour unchallenged and sensitive issues harder to address, putting pressure on managers and their teams. This half-day course helps new and experienced leaders, and HR partners supporting line managers, understand why they hesitate and prepare around facts, impact and a clear desired outcome.

Delegates learn a simple structure for opening respectfully, staying on track through emotion, defensiveness and push-back, and closing with agreed, documented actions and a plan for follow-up. Realistic scenario practice builds confidence to address issues directly and constructively, with greater clarity about what needs to change and what happens next.

a real challenge. a purposeful response.

The challenges this addresses

  • Underperformance or difficult behaviour left unaddressed by managers
  • Emotion and defensiveness derailing the discussion
  • Difficult discussions opened without clear examples or intended outcomes
  • Agreements lost because actions and follow-up remain undocumented

What this can change at work

Avoiding a difficult conversation rarely makes the underlying issue easier to address. Managers prepare clear openings, practise staying calm under pressure and close discussions with agreed, documented actions. This can help individuals understand what needs to change without losing sight of respect, give teams clearer behavioural expectations, and support a more consistent organisational response to underperformance and challenging behaviour before concerns become entrenched.

Prepared openings

Managers begin sensitive discussions with specific examples and a clear purpose rather than broad accusations or an unclear introduction.

Calmer difficult moments

When emotions rise, leaders bring the discussion back to the issue and listen without abandoning the purpose of the conversation.

Documented next steps

Conversations close with agreed actions recorded clearly, so both people can return to the same expectations at follow-up.

Inside the workshop

Working in a small group of 6–8, delegates explore what makes conversations difficult, then work through preparation, opening, responding and closing. Breakouts, peer-to-peer learning and live scenario practice provide a safe space to rehearse challenging moments and receive feedback. Delegates leave with a practical conversation structure and a clear approach to agreeing, documenting and following up actions.

Make Difficult Conversations relevant to your business

Tell us where you want to make progress with why we avoid difficult conversations. We can discuss suitable workplace examples, priorities and access needs before agreeing the scope. Choose live online or face-to-face training for your UK or European team, with delivery arrangements agreed before booking.

Discuss this course

What the training covers

The scope below sets out the subjects covered. Workplace examples and practice are shaped around your team within the booked format.

  • Why we avoid difficult conversations
  • Preparing: facts, impact and desired outcome
  • Opening well and staying on track
  • Handling emotion, defensiveness and push-back
  • Agreeing actions and following up
  • Scenario practice with feedback

What’s included in your booking

Your booked time and format
Half day · Live online or face to face, agreed before booking · 6–8 delegates.
Included in every course
  • Interactive, facilitator-led learningLive, hands-on sessions built around practice and participation.
  • Group discussionsShared conversations about real situations, so people learn from each other as well as the facilitator.
  • Breakout exercisesSmall-group practice, role-play and problem-solving, online or in the room.
  • Take-away materialsCourse materials, tools and templates to use back at work.
Facilitated learning and practical application
The subject coverage, exercises and facilitator feedback described above, with space to connect the learning to relevant workplace situations. The workshop description sets out the specific plans, prompts or tools developed in this course.

Follow-up coaching, refresher sessions and additional delivery days are not automatic inclusions; any additions are agreed in your proposal. Travel, venue arrangements and any software licences are confirmed separately where relevant. Prices exclude VAT.

Outcomes

The capabilities delegates work towards through the training and practice:

  • Prepare for a difficult conversation with confidence
  • Open the conversation clearly and respectfully
  • Stay calm and on track when emotions run high
  • Close with agreed, documented actions

the next conversation is where it counts —

Take it back to work.

Choose a real situation where you want to apply the learning. Use it to turn an outcome into a manageable first step, then reflect on what changes.

Choose

Start with one priority: Prepare for a difficult conversation with confidence.

Apply

Try the approach in a relevant task or conversation. Note what felt useful and what you would adapt.

Review

Reflect on what happened, seek feedback where appropriate and choose your next step. Follow-up support can be discussed separately.

Bring this topic to your next event

We can discuss adapting Difficult Conversations into a keynote or large-group session, focusing on the themes most relevant to your audience. Depth, activities, timings and any follow-up depend on the format and package you choose; an event session is not a substitute for the full course.

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Bring the challenge your people want to work on. We'll shape a practical training workshop or coaching experience around it — with room to explore, practise and take a useful next step.

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