Difficult conversations aren’t always easy, yet they are a crucial part of leadership. Learn to deliver timely and constructive feedback with greater ease.
Initiating a tough conversation is quite often a challenge, even for the best leaders. As a result, issues get avoided, bad behavior is tolerated, and problems linger longer than they should.
Being able to effectively address a challenging topic is a vital leadership skill for any employee, especially those who regularly provide feedback to others. This workshop will teach you how to plan and initiate difficult conversations, techniques to recognize and avoid shut-down triggers, and tactics to use if a conversation has gone south.Plus, you’ll have the opportunity to practice using constructive feedback techniques to help develop your skills.
By the end of this session, you will be armed with the tools to engage in difficult conversations with greater confidence, better maintain control of the subject and emotions at hand, make conscious decisions about your questions and responses, and, overall, learn to approach challenging situations with greater ease, positivity and results.

What You Will Learn
  • How to plan and prepare effectively for a difficult conversation
  • The verbal and nonverbal signs of productive communication
  • 3 common conversation shut-down triggers and how to avoid them
  • Learn methods to respond when a conversation turns unproductive
  • Use effective listening and questioning skills to gain agreement and commitment
  • Constructive feedback techniques and methods to encourage a productive outcome
Workshop Structure

The Art of Tough Conversations is a 3-hour session, with instruction, partner and group discussion, interactive activities and application practice. The program includes full-color workshop materials and a session workbook with handouts to use back at work.

Workshop Pricing + Logistics

If you’re interested in purchasing this workshop for your agency, please complete this request form and someone from the 4A’s Learning & Development Team will schedule a kick off call to discuss your needs and confirm pricing.
Note: No out-of-pocket expenses (such as meals, travel, hotel, printed materials, facility space if required, etc.) are included in the workshop fee. Those costs will be billed by the facilitator to agency separately. 

About Cecilia Gorman

Cecilia Gorman is a certified John C. Maxwell Speaker, Trainer & Coach who partners with advertising agencies and other creatively-minded companies to develop employees to their fullest potential. Her uplifting personality, 20+ year journey as an advertising pro (in HR, Creative Management and Production), and sense of humor means the trainings she delivers are both engaging and effective. Cecilia is on a mission to infuse others with increased self-belief about their potential and the actions they need to take to drive their career forward.


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