Managing Challenging Conversations - Wednesday 14 January 2026 (HMC, 12 The Point, Market Harborough)
This course is for: Middle Leaders and those aspiring to Middle Leadership positions
Description
What will you gain by attending?
- Build confidence to address situations and issues
- Improve the ability to be objective, plan and take into account others' perspectives
- Practical models to help support professional conversations
Course aims:
This session will help you to understand and overcome our inclination to procrastinate and avoid having those ‘challenging’ conversations:
- We will look at our attitude to conflict and our natural conflict reactions
- Consider the theory of ‘social threat’ and how it affects behaviour
- A brief introduction to Transactional Analysis and its impact/influence on personal interactions
- Understanding perception and perspective from others’ point of view to approach situations with an open mind
- Focusing on solutions rather than problems to reach positive outcomes –introduction of the TAPS model
- Listening Skills
- Introduction to a practical and simple delivering feedback model
- The course will provide an opportunity to practice some techniques in a safe, supportive environment
Course Programme
|
Time |
Session |
|
09.30 – 10.00 |
Arrival, registration, and coffee |
|
10.00 – 10.15 |
Welcome, introduction & objectives of the day |
|
10.15 – 11.15 |
Session 1: Why we avoid ‘confrontation’ Exploring communication styles and conflict handling approaches |
|
11.15 – 11.30 |
Refreshment break |
|
11.30 – 12.00 |
Session 2: Identifying core issues and positive outcomes |
|
12.00 – 13.00 |
Session 3: Asking questions and Active Listening Understanding others’ perspective |
|
13.00 – 13.30 |
Working Lunch |
|
13.30 – 14.15 |
Session 4: Preparing for ‘reactions’ |
|
14.15 – 15.45 |
Session 5: Practice and feedback session
Working refreshment break
|
|
15.45 – 16.00 |
Session 6: Review and Action Plans
|
|
16.00 |
Questions and closing remarks |
Speaker Biography:
Meg is a highly experienced Executive Coach, leadership consultant, and Lecturer for the Institute of Leadership and Management. With over 20 years’ experience in coaching and developing individuals and teams, she has worked extensively at senior leadership and board level across sectors including corporate, education, sport, and healthcare. Her clients have included British Airways, HMC, Volkswagen, England Rugby, Ford Motor Company, and Cambridge Judge Business School. She specialises in executive coaching, talent and performance management, organisational analysis, and culture change, and is a qualified ILM Level 5 coach as well as a CIPD Mentor.
Known for her warm, honest, and engaging approach, Meg quickly builds strong relationships that support individuals to reach their full potential. Drawing on her own senior leadership experience, she brings both empathy and challenge to her coaching, combining practical insight with strategic thinking. Recent assignments have included leadership development as part of Ford’s European Talent Strategy, succession planning initiatives for International Hotels Group, and senior leadership coaching at Cambridge University.