Staying Effective in Challenging Conversations

Challenging conversations often derail when reactions take over. Learn practical ways to stay focused, listen well and respond deliberately.

The biggest obstacle in many conversations isn’t the other person - it’s how we respond under pressure.

This practical online workshop helps you recognise what’s happening in the moment and stay effective when discussions become tense, emotional, or high stakes.

You’ll learn simple preparation and listening strategies that reduce anxiety, improve clarity, and make it easier to respond constructively rather than reactively.

This is the first in the workshop series “When Conversations Go Sideways”. The series is designed to strengthen everyday leadership conversations. This workshop focusses on the impact of the leader in conversations.

You can book this workshop on its own or as part of the series.

By attending this workshop, you’ll leave with:

• Insight into your personal conversational triggers
• Awareness of perception and blind spots
• Stronger listening habits
• A clear commitment to one practical change
• Suggestions for further development on-the-job

This webinar will be particularly useful if you:

• Lead or manage others and conversations don’t always land as intended
• Need to give feedback or resolve issues at work
• Want to keep important conversations productive under pressure

Workshop Series

Workshop 1 Staying Effective in Challenging Conversations (26 May)

Workshop 2 Encouraging Honest Conversations at Work (9 June)

Workshop 3 Difficult Conversations That Need to Happen (23 June)

Workshop 4 Putting it into Practice (participants in the series will be sent an invite to this workshop on 18 June)

About the Facilitator & Course Designer: Leonie Black of Cadence Consulting

Leonie is the principal consultant of Cadence Consulting, specialising in leadership development and organisational capability.

She works with leaders at all levels but has a particular passion for the people in the middle: team leaders and managers navigating the competing demands of their teams, their organisations, and their own development.

Known for making complex ideas practical and accessible, Leonie translates research into tools and approaches that leaders can use immediately.

This session draws on her work helping leaders understand what's really happening in their toughest conversations and build the skills to handle them better.