Managing Challenging Conversations - Wednesday 21 May 2025 (Broadway House, London)

This course aims to: Build confidence and skills to help people to have honest, constructive conversations that support positive outcomes This course is for: Middle Leaders and those aspiring to Middle Leadership positions.

Description

Course outline:

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

In attending this course you will:

  • Build confidence to address situations and issues
  • Improve your ability to be objective, plan and take into account others' perspectives
  • Learn practical models to help support professional conversations

Course Programme:

Time

Session

09.45 – 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 and ‘unconscious bias’

13.00 – 13.45

Lunch in restaurant

13.45 – 14.30

Session 4: Preparing for ‘reactions’

14.30 – 16.00

Session 5: Practice and feedback session 

16.00 – 16.15

Session 6: Review and Action Plans 

16.15 – 16.30

Questions and closing remarks 

Course Director Biography:

Meg is a highly experienced, practical consultant with the ability to identify and deliver to help people and organisations reach their potential - both personally and professionally. With over 30 years’ experience in the training and development of individuals and teams, Meg has worked with blue chip companies, designing, developing and delivering a diverse range of training and development campaigns using a wide range of teaching and training methodologies.

Her key areas of activity are: Leadership and management development (Lectured for the Institute of Leadership and Management), culture change, talent and performance management, group facilitation, organisation analysis and strategic planning. CIPD mentor and coach.

Meg has worked with a number of global businesses. Her key focus is developing leadership teams and succession planning for organisations.

January 24 Delegate Feedback:

"This was one of the best courses I have attended in 20 years of teaching. Meg was a really engaging and empathetic speaker, who clearly understood the challenges teachers face and gave us concrete examples and constructive advice."