Challenging Conversations
It's more than just a course.
This is a learning journey.
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On-demand digital learning playlist
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Live session delivered virtually or in-person
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Supporting on-demand digital learning playlists | 30-minute follow up coaching session (optional extra for teams)
Course Code: OV-CC
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half-day live session delivered virtually or in-person | 6-8 hrs on-demand learning | 30-minute coaching session (optional extra for teams)
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This is available for individuals, groups and teams
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Part of our Core Library
This course looks at a structured set of techniques, strategies and tips to make those tricky conversations less daunting and more productive. It covers how to prepare yourself in advance of the conversation, as well as specific techniques of building rapport, active listening, using positive language and managing emotional reactions. You will have the opportunity to practise these skills, using a four-stage structure to lead the conversation to a positive conclusion.
This course is suitable for anyone who is facing a difficult conversation and would like to develop the knowledge and skills to tackle it confidently and effectively.
By the end of this course you will be able to:
- Establish the most commonly encountered challenging conversations and what makes them challenging
- Describe what an effective challenging conversation looks like, and how to achieve a successful outcome
- Explain what preparation is needed ahead of a challenging conversation taking place
- Describe what to do if things go badly during a challenging conversation
- Confidently conduct a challenging conversation, following a four-stage structure
You may also like:
Handling Difficult Situations
Giving and Receiving Feedback
Bitesize Sessions
Available for delivery to groups and teams, our bite-size learning sessions are short bursts of knowledge covering the what, why, and how of a topic, and delivered at pace. Expert-led sessions can be delivered virtually, face-to-face, or you can choose a combination, and they can be run either standalone or up to three sessions in a day.
Challenging Conversations
Course Code: VILT-CHC
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90-minute live session delivered virtually or in-person (Perfect for use as part of a blended learning programme)
-
This is available for groups and teams
-
Part of our Core Library
This 90-minute session looks at a structured set of techniques, strategies and tips to make those tricky conversations more productive. It covers how to prepare yourself in advance of the conversation, as well as specific techniques of building rapport, active listening, and managing emotional reactions
This short session is suitable for anyone who is facing a difficult conversation and would like to develop the knowledge and skills to tackle it confidently and effectively.
By the end of this session, you will be able to:
- Establish the most commonly encountered challenging conversations and what makes them challenging
- Describe what to do if things go badly during a challenging conversation
- Explain what preparation is needed ahead of a challenging conversation taking place
- Describe what an effective challenging conversation looks like, and how to achieve a successful outcome
This virtual session can be combined with:
Challenging Conversations - Virtual Learning Skill Drill
Online Learning
Our award-winning learning content library is expertly created, easy to consume, and visually engaging and it can be experienced through a range of modalities - Fluidbooks, videos, animations, podcasts, infographics, quizzes and more. Use our digital learning content to support on-demand or blended learning provision within your organisation. Hundreds of topics are available in multiple global languages.
Challenging Conversations
Core content
- Challenging Conversations Infographic
- Challenging Conversations Fluidbook
- Challenging Conversations Quiz
- Challenging Conversations Thrive in Five
- Challenging Conversations Video
- Apply Your Learning Action Plan
See our engaging content in action
Explore more about our contentBuild a customised programme
Use our building blocks approach to create a customised programme to suit your specific needs and context, at the pace you need.
Talk to us about what you want to achieve.

Step 1
Choose the core blocks you want (from our content library)

Step 2
Consider what blocks you want to customise (to make it your own)

Step 3
Review any additional technology and support services we can help you with (to bring the truly bring the learning experience to life)

Step 4
We’ll create the optimum journey for your learners
Want to co-create?
Let's talkThe building blocks menu of options
To help achieve the pace and agility you need, we encourage you to make use of what we already have (our core library) and make it your own. There’s no need to ‘recreate the wheel’ - build from what we have ‘ready to go’ and then customise what you need to.
Choose from across our range of 100+ core topic areas.
Online self-study:
- Fluidbooks
- Infographics (standard and HTML)
- Thrive in Five
- Videos/animations
- Quizzes & assessments
- Podcasts
- Digital flip cards
- HTML microsites
- Digital adventures
- Applying what you have learned - action learning prompts/exercises
- All assets under a topic/collection
Live expert-led:
- Pre-built team experience (learning journey)
- Live workshops - virtual or in-person training (1 x half-day live session in a day; 2 x half-day live session in a day)
- Bitesize (1 x 90-min bite-size session in a day; 2 x 90-min bite-size session in a day; 3 x 90-min bite-size session in a day)
- Run-it-yourself
- Coaching – per hour (Follow-up; Learning programme; Transitioning together; Team effectiveness; Career coaching; Leadership & executive; Skills performance coaching)
- Group facilitation sessions (1 x 3hr in a day; 2 x 3hr in a day
- Leadership lab session (1 x 3hr in a day; 2 x 3hr in a day)
- Virtual delivery platform licence
Personalisation for live events:
- Add your logo
- Tailored
- Branded
- Fully customised
Bespoke content creation:
- Fluidbooks
- Infographics (standard and HTML)
- Thrive in Five
- Videos/animations
- Quizzes & assessments
- Podcasts with bespoke or your content
- Digital flip cards
- HTML microsites
- Digital adventures
- Digital badges/certificates
- Live expert-led bite-size or workshop session
Bespoke printed communication/learning assets:
- Handouts
- Z-cards
- Zappar AR for Z-card
- Action learning prompts/exercises
- Bespoke Hub annual subscription fee (per user)
- Hub implementation
- Subscription (open) hub
- Booker portal
- Delivery – Virtual or in-person facilitator; virtual producer
- Faculty management
- Delegate management
- Instructional design
- Specialist instructional design
- Learning journey curation
- Logistics support
- Project management
- Customer success management
- Branding & creative communication
- Graphic design
- Translations services
- Proofing/QA
- Data insights & engagement
- Consultancy
- Supplier management
- Managed Learning Services

Our approach
Successful learning programmes don’t just happen by accident: Our 4E learning journey model ensures maximum transformational power (and it’s informed by decades of adult learning best practices and proven real-life hybrid learning effectiveness).
Or speak to one of our friendly learning advisers by:
Phone
0345 0712801