Smoothly Navigate Tough Talks With Ease
Refine your communication skills by learning to harness your emotional intelligence with one of the UK's most acclaimed management training courses.
What gets in the way of developing and holding on to new communication skills are old habits of thinking and speaking. Even if the advice is very good the reason why it rarely sticks are the mental habits people inevitably revert to, especially under pressure.
Unlearning those old habits and internalising a more effective and lasting approach to communication needs more than a short course of lectures on how to do it.
What makes this training stand out is the exceptional support through one-to-one coaching sessions and continuous feedback. Changing behaviour is not an easy task as old habits are hard to break.
With a 40-year track record we can help you cultivate practical skills, and build your confidence to so you can successfully navigate real-world challenges, ensuring lasting behavioural improvements.
Join thousands of participants getting results
"What I love about this course is that I didn't just learn about the topic, this course is about ME. I'm confident I can reliably use my new skills, even when under pressure".
A Project Manager At A Tech Company
"A lesson for life! The power of effective communication is incredible when one masters the skills "listening with empathy" and "speaking assertively"
A Project Quality Engineer
Well-known companies who have used this course again and again, over many years
You will learn a set of powerful emotional intelligence communication techniques so that you can manage difficult conversations, handle challenging situations, build relationships and set firm boundaries.
The goal of this training is to equip you with the tools they need to build strong, lasting relationships in your professional life, although because these skills are so transferable many clients report vast improvements in their personal relationships as well.
This is a skills development rather than just a theoretical programme, so the emphasis throughout will be on you taking turn after turn, practising your skills, while receiving feedback and coaching about your effect on others.
In your coaching sessions you will be helped to practise dealing with the kinds of situation you find challenging, again and again, until you are confident you can do it successfully.
We'll combine practical, hands-on experience with video replay and analysis and discussion of the principles involved to help you gain both skills and understanding. Special attention is paid to your individual training needs, so you can practise your skills in real-life situations that you have to handle at work.
That's why as well as your place in a small group, this training includes a generous amount of private and confidential one-to-one coaching sessions online, spread over several months, ensuring an exceptional level of support. This will ensure the changes you make are sustained over a longer period of time and any obstacles are overcome. Choose between online training available worldwide, or in-person face-to-face courses in the UK.
For a list of upcoming course dates (for online coaching and face-to-face training), the locations of the next 3-day public courses in the UK and pricing Click here.
This initial coaching session serves as an introduction to the "Skills with People" course, allowing you to understand the course's relevance and effectiveness for your specific needs before committing to it.
We cover different different kinds of conversations. Each page explores a different aspect of how emotional intelligence can help you be more successful.
Each page explores different aspects of how to navigate difficult conversations. We offer specialised training for different aspects of communication and relationship management in professional environments.
Utilise active listening techniques such as empathy, accepting the other person's perspective, communicating feelings and desires with assertiveness, breaking away to regroup regularly, respecting differences and agreeing on disagreements where possible, and self-reflecting for self-care.
Utilise practical tools such as asking for feedback, positive visualisation techniques, downloadable guides and this “Skills with People’ training course” can help you develop the conversational skills you’ll need for difficult conversations.
The Competency Framework for Self-Assessment serves as a valuable resource in honing the skills necessary for handling difficult conversations. The primary purpose of the framework is to help you in identify areas of strength and areas in need of improvement, ultimately fostering their overall communication and relational abilities.
Key Components |
Benefits |
The framework includes a domain that specifically targets managing difficult conversations. |
By focusing on this competency, individuals can enhance their communication skills, crucial for dealing with complex discussions. |
The Competency Framework for Self-Assessment encourages the use of emotional behavioural skills in preparation for and during challenging dialogues. |
Applying these techniques and strategies can improve self-assessed confidence, knowledge, and skills in managing tough conversations, contributing to better overall communication effectiveness. |
Using the framework allows individuals to self-assess their capabilities, which may have positive implications for health. |
When one's communication and relational abilities are developed and honed, it has been linked to improved health outcomes and patient adherence. |
This training is for any manager under pressure who needs to earn respect and cooperation, and avoid getting into arguments with difficult people. If you want to succeed at getting the best out of people, then this is relevant for you.
Many managers under pressure believe that people are only persuaded by reason. Most managers assume that all it takes to persuade people to your point of view when they resist you is reason, and that the best way to win arguments is to deliver a perfectly scripted piece of irrefutable logic. But nothing could be further from the truth.
If you're a manager who needs the cooperation of other people, then THIS training is exactly what you're looking for. On the "Skills with People" training course you'll learn how to overcome other people's resistance without triggering conflict.
Gain insight from some inspiring stories illustrating how others have dealt with difficult conversations through their own experiences.
Success Stories of Graceful Difficult Conversations
When dealing with difficult conversations, there are valuable lessons to be learned from challenging situations. Here are a few key points to especially consider:
A difficult conversation is one where the topic might be sensitive or controversial, and could lead to disagreement between two or more people.
Difficult conversations can cause tension and emotional discomfort, but they're often necessary for addressing issues in relationships such as conflicts at work or home.
To prepare for a difficult conversation, practice what you want to say beforehand and create an environment that encourages open dialogue by setting ground rules about respectful speech.
You should also consider your client struggling own emotions ahead of time, so that you remain composed during the actual conversation.
When having a difficult conversation, stay calm and listen carefully to what the other person has to say before responding thoughtfully while maintaining eye contact. Let them finish their point before offering your view on how to resolve the situation in order to maintain calm and demonstrate respect and understanding throughout the process.
Maintaining a calm attitude is essential when dealing with difficult conversations. By internally modulating your emotional responses and remembering the key points you want to convey, you can navigate tough negotiations or discussions with grace and ease.
When confronted with blame-based accusations, it's important to respond diplomatically. Instead of losing your standing or engaging in an emotionally charged exchange, focus on phrasing your points concisely and countering negativity with a positive outlook.
Delivering bad news requires a kind-hearted peacekeeper approach. Understand that clients may experience complex emotional responses and that their feelings are valid. By maintaining executive presence and delivering the news while considering their emotional state, you can achieve a positive outcome.
Dealing with tense situations among family members demands the same cascade of strategies used in any difficult conversation. You can internally modulate your emotional responses, absorb negativity by externally expressing empathy, and find common ground by simply reminding everyone of the importance of maintaining great relationships.
When handling negative feedback, it's crucial to avoid blame-based accusations and instead focus on maintaining a calm attitude. Externally express your understanding of the other person's feelings, even if they're making a major mistake. By doing so, you can navigate difficult conversations with grace and ease.
The emotional charge that comes with difficult conversations intensifies when dealing with real pain. Whether it's outlining key points, maintaining calm, or finding a positive outcome, acknowledging the emotional charge of the situation helps you approach the conversation with empathy and understanding.
Navigating tough negotiations with a direct report requires an executive presence. By keeping both a break and your calm attitude in mind, you can point concisely to the key points you want to convey. Remember, even in inherently uncertain situations, maintaining a kind-hearted peacekeeper approach can lead to a positive outcome.
Maintaining great relationships during tough conversations involves the same tactics as with family members. Keep both a break and your calm attitude, and remember that a positive outcome can benefit greatly from externally expressing empathy and reminding everyone of the importance of grace and ease.
To manage emotional responses during intense discussions, practice phrase silently. By internally modulating your reactions and externally expressing empathy, you can handle difficult conversations with grace. Remember, even strangers can benefit greatly from your ability to respond diplomatically.
When dealing with conversations involving complex emotional responses, it's crucial to absorb negativity and counteract it with a calm attitude. By pointing concisely to key points, you can deliver bad news or navigate tough negotiations while still maintaining a kind-hearted peacekeeper approach for a positive outcome.