How 'Nice' Leaders can Master Difficult Conversations
2 Weeks
·Cohort-based Course
Learn to have powerful career-changing conversations, win more arguments, and resolve conflicts effectively.
Last chance to enroll
3
days
13
hours
33
mins
Course overview
Communicate effectively in challenging conversations
Great leaders are excellent at navigating difficult conversations. This course will provide the tools you need to master challenging conversations and get the outcomes you want. Think about:
👉 Influencing senior leaders or board members
👉 Delivering bad news or critical feedback to a team member
👉 Resolving instead of tolerating workplace conflict
👉 Creating a win-win outcome in a difficult negotiation
The course packs-in knowledge from the foremost leaders and coaches on this topic, and combines that with hands-on practice and feedback in a risk-free environment for the most impact. You can expect proven, practical techniques and frameworks and lots of reflection and practice to ensure you come out feeling ready and equipped.
By the end of the course, you should have the tools and conviction you need to prepare for a variety of difficult conversations, frame and navigate them effectively, handle defensiveness and blockers, and create outcomes that work for you.
Who is this course for
01
People leaders who want to better navigate disagreements and friction at work.
02
High-performers who want to earn greater influence in their organizations.
03
Leaders who want to be able to deliver tough messages while being kind and respectful.
After this course, you will...
Get out of your own way
You will have looked inward and identified the blockers that are getting in the way of effective conversations. And learnt to set them aside and move forward.
Frame contentious topics effectively
You will practice framing the problem in a neutral and constructive way for the best outcomes. You will know how to get past defensiveness and resistance.
Develop a toolkit to navigate important conversations
You will walk away with techniques to confidently frame, navigate and conclude common situations like critical feedback, conflicts, workplace friction, and tough negotiations.
Create a greater set of possibilities
You will see new possibilities in complex situations, as opposed to seeing them as zero sum games. You will develop tactics to broaden the set of solutions acceptable to all parties.
Refine the necessary interpersonal skills
You will practice and hone your interpersonal skills to enhance empathy, language, listening, and emotional regulation that are important for successful outcomes.
How 'Nice' Leaders can Master Difficult Conversations
Course syllabus
Week 1
Week 1
Dec 11—Dec 17
Modules
- The External Side of Difficult ConversationsThe External Side of Difficult Conversations4 Lessons
Every difficult conversation has two components: an external side (what you say to others and how you behave), and an internal side (what you tell yourself and how you feel). In the first module, we will start with understanding why some conversations fail. Then, we will explore the skills necessary to master the external side of difficult conversations, like breaking out of the adversarial frame, building alliances, cultivating trust, and listening deeply.
- The Internal Side of Difficult ConversationsThe Internal Side of Difficult Conversations2 Lessons
We start to explore the skills necessary for master of the internal side of difficult conversations. The internal side is about mentally preparing yourself in the best possible way to approach difficult conversations. In this module, we will explore the internal blockers that hold us back, then practice techniques to overcome them.
- “One Way” Conversations“One Way” Conversations3 Lessons
We apply the skills learnt so far to real life situations. While there are truly no “one way” conversations, in this module, we explore situations that primarily involve conveying a difficult message in a clear and effective way to individuals or groups.
Week 2
Week 2
Dec 18
Modules
- “Two Way” Conversations“Two Way” Conversations3 Lessons
We continue applying the core skills learnt so far to complex situations involving two or more parties. We explore how to navigate workplace friction, resolve conflicts, and conduct negotiations.
Post-Course
Post-Course
Modules
- Personalized PlanPersonalized Plan1 Lesson
Optionally, join us to develop a personalized action plan for yourself, and get feedback on it from course instructor and peers.
What people are saying
Stephanie
Jen
Rachel
Ryan
Operations
Supply Chain
Ops Leader
Executive
Biotech Project Leader
Technology Leader
Join an upcoming cohort
How 'Nice' Leaders can Master Difficult Conversations
Fall 2023 Cohort
$500 USD
Dates
Dec 11—18, 2023
Payment Deadline
Dec 11, 2023
Don't miss out! Enrollment closes in 4 days
Meet your instructor
Prateek Singhal
Founder, F500 Executive, and Leadership Coach
I am an operations executive and leadership coach with 15 years in leadership roles at startups and large companies like McKinsey, eBay, Allstate and Wayfair. I have coached 100s of leaders at companies like Google, Facebook, Apple, Uber, Amazon as well as several high-growth startups. As an operations leader, I built and led several $200M+ businesses and 100+ person teams. I coach founders, executives and leaders 1:1 on some of their most pressing leadership challenges.
But it wasn't a straight line to get here. I've made every mistake in the book and learnt the hard way. I have been promoted, and denied promotions. I have gone through successful acquisitions, and failed startups. I've also been fortunate to have observed and learned from some of the best in the industry. And I am eager to share those learnings with you.
I have an MBA from Stanford University, an MPA/ID from Harvard University, and a CS undergrad from Indian Institute of Technology. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area. You can find me on LinkedIn here.
Feedback Preparation Worksheet
This worksheet will help you prepare for an upcoming conversation where you need to provide someone critical feedback. Feedback isn't only for direct reports. You can use this worksheet to provide feedback to your manager, direct report, or a peer.
Plus, check out a bonus worksheet towards the end.
Download Now
Course schedule
~6 hours over 2 weeks
Monday, Dec 11, 2023
8am - 9:30am US Pacific Time
11am - 12:30am US Eastern Time
9:30pm - 11pm India Time
The External Side
- Why Conversations Fail
- Frame the Problem Effectively
- Build an Alliance
- Listen Beyond Words
Wednesday, Dec 13, 2023
8am - 9:30am US Pacific Time
11am - 12:30am US Eastern Time
9:30pm - 11pm India Time
The Internal Side:
- Emotional Regulation
- Effective Communication Techniques
Friday, Dec 15, 2023
8am - 9:30am US Pacific Time
11am - 12:30am US Eastern Time
9:30pm - 11pm India Time
“One Way” Conversations:
- Giving Critical Feedback
- Delivering "Bad" News
- Receiving "Bad" News
Monday, Dec 18, 2023
8am - 9:30am US Pacific Time
11am - 12:30am US Eastern Time
9:30pm - 11pm India Time
“Two Way” Conversations:
- Conflict Resolution
- Negotiations
- Post-conversation Assessment
Experience, not just learn
Active hands-on learning
Mastery of difficult conversations requires practice, not just theory. This course incorporates live workshops and lots of practice to make sure you internalize what you learn.
Interactive and project-based
This won't just be a series of videos. You’ll be interacting with other learners through breakout rooms and project teams for maximum impact.
Learn with a cohort of peers
Join and learn from a community of like-minded people who want to learn and grow alongside you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I can’t make a live session?
I work full-time, what is the expected time commitment?
What’s the cancellation/refund policy?
How do I get this course reimbursed by my company?
Are there discounts or scholarships available?
What if I have more questions about the course?
Stay in the loop
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Join an upcoming cohort
How 'Nice' Leaders can Master Difficult Conversations
Fall 2023 Cohort
$500 USD
Dates
Dec 11—18, 2023
Payment Deadline
Dec 11, 2023
Don't miss out! Enrollment closes in 4 days