Summary
Managers shape performance, engagement, clarity, accountability, and team culture. This course develops practical management capability in Difficult Conversations so leaders can guide people more effectively and handle everyday management situations with confidence. In this Difficult Conversations Training Course in Shanghai (Leadership & Management), participants build practical capability in Difficult Conversations with focus on preparation, emotional control, constructive dialogue, and resolution. The programme is designed for organisations in Shanghai that want enhanced implementation capability, clearer judgement, and more reliable workplace adoption.
Moving beyond theory, the programme addresses the practical side of Difficult Conversations: how it works in live settings, where most teams underperform, and how to translate the learning into immediate action across roles and teams.
Audience
- functional managers responsible for performance and people development
- leaders who need stronger consistency in communication, accountability, and coaching
- high-potential professionals moving into leadership roles
- new and experienced managers
- team leaders and supervisors
Learning Outcomes
- recognise common management mistakes and respond more constructively
- apply practical management approaches in live team situations
- set expectations and communicate with greater clarity
- improve team coordination, motivation, and follow-through
- handle performance, feedback, and accountability conversations more effectively
- translate leadership intent into day-to-day action
- handle Difficult Conversations with more clarity, composure, and fairness
Agenda / Modules
Module 1: Understanding tension and triggers
- why Difficult Conversations become unproductive
- triggers, assumptions, and communication breakdowns
- separating issue, emotion, and intent
Module 2: Preparing for the conversation
- clarifying the purpose and desired outcome
- choosing timing, setting, and evidence
- preparing messages that are clear but respectful
Module 3: Running the discussion constructively
- using language that keeps the discussion constructive
- balancing directness with empathy
- asking questions and listening for understanding
Module 4: Responding to reactions
- responding to defensiveness, silence, or escalation
- staying calm and focused under pressure
- keeping the conversation anchored to facts and outcomes
Module 5: Resolution and follow-through
- agreeing next steps and accountability
- documenting outcomes where needed
- using the discussion to strengthen trust and clarity
Business Benefits
- more consistent people management across teams
- stronger manager capability and team leadership quality
- fewer unresolved issues and stronger quality of difficult workplace conversations
- clearer expectations, communication, and accountability
- better engagement and performance conversations
- improved confidence in challenging management situations
What’s Included
- reflection exercises and action planning
- materials that support application after the course
- tools and frameworks for everyday leadership and people decisions
- manager-focused workshop with practical scenarios and discussion
- optional tailoring to management level, function, or team context
FAQs
1. Who should attend this Difficult Conversations course?
This programme is designed for professionals, managers, and teams who need stronger practical capability in Difficult Conversations. The group composition can be adapted based on seniority, department, and business requirements.
2. Can the course be tailored for our organisation in Shanghai?
Yes. The programme can be adapted to your industry, internal terminology, systems, policies, examples, and team challenges so the learning is more directly usable after the workshop.
3. Is this course suitable for mixed-function groups?
Yes, in most situations. The workshop can be run for a single function or for mixed groups where collaboration across roles is important.
4. Does the course include practical exercises?
Yes. Depending on the format, the course can include interactive exercises, applied case studies, group discussion, and reflection-based learning.
5. Can this be delivered virtually as well as in person?
Yes. This course can be taken in person in Shanghai, via live virtual classroom, or as a private session for organisations across China and the wider Asia-Pacific region.