Difficult conversations and conflict training
For managers, team leaders, HR professionals and employees who need to navigate sensitive conversations, disagreements, challenging feedback or workplace conflict.
- Half or full days
- Realistic scenarios
- Online or in person
The problem
Why difficult conversations get avoided
Difficult conversations are often avoided, postponed or handled poorly.
People may fear upsetting someone, damaging a relationship or losing control of the situation. As a result, small issues can grow into misunderstandings, resentment and conflict.
Even experienced managers can struggle to find the right words or remain composed when emotions run high.
What the training explores
Participants learn how to approach challenging conversations with greater preparation, awareness and skill. Training explores:
- Understanding personal reactions and emotional triggers
- Preparing for a difficult conversation
- Opening conversations clearly and constructively
- Listening to understand rather than simply respond
- Asking questions that encourage dialogue
- Managing emotions and responding under pressure
- Expressing disagreement respectfully and assertively
- Moving conversations towards constructive outcomes
Practise it before it matters
Sessions are highly interactive, using realistic workplace scenarios, paired exercises, role-play and constructive feedback.
Listen to understand.
Workshops or a longer programme
- Length
- Half or full daysTraining can be delivered as a half-day or full-day workshop, or as part of a longer leadership development programme.
- Where
- Online or in personAvailable online or in person.
- For
- Managers, teams and leadersDifficult conversations training for managers, teams or leadership groups.
What participants leave with
Practical tools for difficult conversations
Confidence to listen and manage their responses
Issues addressed before they escalate
The aim is not to eliminate disagreement, but to help people handle it more constructively.
Led by Kirsten de Bouter Shillam
Speaker, communication strategist and founder of The Human Voice Studio. Kirsten trained in theatre and performance before moving into business, psychology and coaching, and has spent more than 30 years helping individuals, teams and organisations across Europe communicate with greater clarity, confidence and impact.
She has worked with companies, schools and organisations, and has been a TEDx speaker, organiser and speaker coach. Sessions run in English, and Kirsten is also fluent in Dutch and Spanish.
- 30+ years' experience
- BSc Psychology
- PCC Coach
- TEDx speaker & coach
- Trained in performance
Difficult conversations training, answered
What is difficult conversations training?
Training that helps participants approach challenging conversations with greater preparation, awareness and skill.
Who is it for?
Managers, team leaders, HR professionals and employees who need to navigate sensitive conversations, disagreements, challenging feedback or workplace conflict.
What does the training cover?
Understanding personal reactions and emotional triggers, preparing for and opening a difficult conversation, listening to understand rather than simply respond, asking questions that encourage dialogue, managing emotions under pressure, expressing disagreement respectfully and assertively, and moving conversations towards constructive outcomes.
Does it cover workplace conflict?
Yes, alongside sensitive conversations, disagreements and challenging feedback. The aim is not to eliminate disagreement, but to help people handle it more constructively.
How is it taught?
Sessions are highly interactive, using realistic workplace scenarios, paired exercises, role-play and constructive feedback.
How long is the training?
Training can be delivered as a half-day or full-day workshop, or as part of a longer leadership development programme, online or in person.
How do we book?
Contact The Human Voice Studio to discuss difficult conversations training for managers, teams or leadership groups.
Other ways to work together
Discuss difficult conversations training
Contact The Human Voice Studio to discuss difficult conversations training for managers, teams or leadership groups.
