Difficult Conversations: Level 3

Advancing: The Adaptive Problem Solver

Navigate High Stakes, Power Dynamics, and Complex Friction.

What happens when a hard conversation involves power dynamics, tight deadlines, or broken trust? Real communication capability requires moving beyond simple task feedback into navigating complex, multi-step dynamics and systemic patterns. Across 8 advanced workshops, learners will master option generation, formalize clear agreements, execute trust repair after breaches, navigate hierarchy and time pressure, address recurring behavioural patterns, and coach peers through tough conversations.

Leader-Led & Ready-to-Run: Designed for internal leaders to facilitate easily, every workshop guide includes complete step-by-step scripts, activities, and resources needed to run the session.

Best for: Experienced leaders, project managers, and senior individual contributors navigating high-stakes conversations, cross-functional friction, or power imbalances.

Key Takeaway: You’ll develop adaptive judgment to resolve complex disagreements, repair damaged working relationships, and coach others through high-stakes dialogues.

The 8-Workshop Journey:

• Explore Options and Trade-offs: Generate multiple paths forward and evaluate them against real constraints, trade-offs, and mutual gains.

• Close Clearly and Revisit: End difficult conversations with specific agreements, assigned owners, timeframes, and a planned revisit point.

• Repair Trust After Misses or Mistakes: Pair genuine accountability with clear future behaviour changes to rebuild damaged trust.

• Know When to Escalate: Recognize when a direct one-to-one conversation is insufficient, unsafe, or requires formal support pathways.

• Address Patterns, Not Just Incidents: Hold constructive conversations about recurring dynamics by synthesizing examples and resetting expectations.

• Stay Constructive Under Time Pressure: Maintain conversation quality and curiosity when urgency, ambiguity, and stakes are high.

• Navigate Hierarchy and Power: Speak clearly across status differences while balancing candour, respect, risk, and professional judgment.

• Coach a Peer Through a Tough Conversation: Help colleagues prepare, anticipate reactions, rehearse openings, and debrief important discussions.