Description
Overview
Hard conversations are an unavoidable part of leadership and professional life—whether it’s addressing performance issues, giving difficult feedback, managing conflict, or discussing sensitive topics. Avoiding these conversations often makes problems worse, damaging trust, morale, and results.
This practical webinar equips managers and professionals with the skills, structure, and confidence to handle tough conversations effectively. Participants will learn how to communicate clearly, stay calm under pressure, and achieve productive outcomes—without damaging relationships.
Why you should attend
Many people know what needs to be said but struggle with how to say it. Fear of conflict, emotional reactions, or saying the wrong thing can cause leaders to delay or avoid critical conversations.
This session provides proven tools and frameworks to help you prepare for and lead hard conversations with confidence, empathy, and professionalism.
You will learn how to:
- Approach difficult conversations with clarity and purpose
- Manage emotional responses—yours and theirs
- Communicate honestly while preserving trust and respect
- Reduce defensiveness and resistance
- Turn tough discussions into productive outcomes
Who will benefit
This webinar is ideal for:
- Managers, Supervisors, and Team Leaders
- HR Professionals and Business Partners
- Project Managers and Cross-Functional Leaders
- Senior Leaders and Executives
- Employees navigating challenging workplace discussions
- Anyone who wants to improve communication effectiveness
Areas covered
- Why hard conversations are challenging—and why they matter
- Common mistakes people make during difficult conversations
- Preparing for a hard conversation: mindset, intent, and outcomes
- Structuring conversations for clarity and accountability
- Managing emotions, defensiveness, and resistance
- Language that de-escalates tension and builds trust
- Giving and receiving difficult feedback effectively
- Handling performance, behavior, and sensitive issues
- Knowing when to escalate or involve HR
- Practical tools, conversation frameworks, and real-world examples.
Meet your speaker

Rhonda Scharf CSP – HoF
Rhonda Scharf CSP, HoF Insightful humorous entertaining even contagious words that are often used to describe Rhonda Scharf. A speaker with the uncanny ability to look at the normal and see something quite different.
Rhonda is a Professional Speaker and member of the Canadian Speaking Hall of Fame, Trainer and Author, based in Ottawa. She has spoken to tens of thousands of people in dozens of different countries.
Rhonda will share some things she has learned to help you excel in your work environment, emerging at the end of the day with a smile and a sense of accomplishment. Audiences far and wide sing her praises for her relevant and useful tips on administration, communication and workplace effectiveness! From efficiency to the future of work; Rhonda has the info to help you thrive!
She knows how to make you laugh and she knows how to get you to question why you do what you do. Her natural warmth and sincerity are balanced by a healthy sense of the absurd, a combination that is useful in any situation.
Rhonda has written eight books, with her latest “Alexa is Stealing her Job” and her best-seller “Common Sense is NOT Common Practice” still available.
Rhonda’s professional speaking career began at age two… when her mother would offer her 25 cents to be quiet for five minutes!
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