Hard Conversations, Handled

By Ashcombe Leadership

Prepare for, open and finish the conversations most managers put off, from performance worries to tension between colleagues.

  • 3 CPD hours
  • Course or workshop
  • Live online
  • Half day (3.5 hours including a break)
The CPD Accreditation Bureau crest

CPD Accredited

CPDAB-A-2026-0015

About this course

Every manager has a conversation they keep putting off. This half-day live course gives managers a simple way to prepare, a calm way to open, and the practice to stay steady when things get emotional. People bring their own real situations and rehearse them in small groups, so they leave with a plan for the next conversation, not just a theory.

The six parts cover why we avoid hard conversations, getting ready with facts, impact and outcome, opening well, staying steady, practice rounds, and agreeing next steps. Learners receive a one-page preparation planner and scripts for openings and next steps.

It suits managers and team leads at any level, supervisors handling performance or behaviour concerns, and teams where small tensions keep growing. It covers everyday conversations, not formal disciplinary processes.

What you will learn

  • Recognise why we avoid hard conversations and what it costs
  • Prepare using facts, impact and the outcome you want
  • Open the conversation clearly in the first two minutes
  • Stay calm and listen when emotions rise
  • Handle pushback, silence and tears with respect
  • Agree next steps and follow up so the issue stays fixed

Course details

CPD hours
3
Format
Course or workshop
Delivery
Live online
Duration
Half day (3.5 hours including a break)
Language
English
Price
€195 per person

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