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Workshop

# Difficult conversations, feedback and conflict

A one-day workshop for tech leaders

Master the essential skills every tech leader needs to navigate challenging situations with confidence and effectiveness.

8 hoursTech leads, staff engineers, engineering managers

The challenge

Common challenges

  • Avoiding necessary feedback due to fear of confrontation
  • Struggling to deliver constructive criticism effectively
  • Dealing with team conflicts that hinder productivity
  • Feeling unprepared for performance management conversations
  • Finding it hard to maintain composure during tense interactions

What you'll gain

  • Proven frameworks for navigating difficult conversations
  • Techniques for delivering impactful feedback (SBI model)
  • Strategies for effective conflict resolution (PAUSE model)
  • Practical exercises to build confidence and skill
  • Tools to foster a culture of open communication and feedback

What you'll learn

Difficult conversations

Learn how to approach and navigate difficult conversations with confidence. Discover frameworks for preparing, conducting, and following up on challenging discussions.

  • Understanding the psychology behind difficult conversations
  • Preparing for challenging discussions
  • Techniques for maintaining composure
  • Strategies for de-escalation

Effective feedback

Master the art of giving and receiving feedback that drives growth and improvement. Learn how to deliver feedback that is specific, actionable, and well-received.

  • The SBI (situation, behavior, impact) feedback model
  • Balancing positive and constructive feedback
  • Creating a feedback-rich culture
  • Receiving feedback with grace and openness

Conflict resolution

Develop skills to identify, address, and resolve conflicts in the workplace. Learn to distinguish between healthy and unhealthy conflict.

  • Understanding different conflict styles
  • The PAUSE model for conflict resolution
  • Mediating conflicts between team members
  • Building a culture that embraces healthy conflict

Practical application

Put theory into practice through interactive exercises, role-playing, and real-world scenarios. Leave with actionable tools and frameworks you can implement immediately.

  • Interactive role-playing exercises
  • Case studies from tech industry
  • Personal action planning
  • Ongoing support resources

Who it's for

Tech / team leads

Build trust, manage your team effectively, and foster collaboration across teams and disciplines.

Principal & staff engineers

Build strong relationships and trust to lead. Influence technical direction and nurture talent through mentoring.

Engineering managers

Delegate effectively, empower others, and balance strategic business with engineering objectives.

Workshop format

8

Hours of focused learning

Deep dive into practical frameworks and techniques for handling difficult conversations, feedback, and conflict.

6

Months of access

To additional online leadership training material to help you continue your learning journey. Access to workshop material for life.

1

Post-workshop coaching

Complimentary 1:1 coaching session focused on your specific communication challenges.

Agenda

9:00 AM

Welcome & understanding the core issues

Why difficult conversations, feedback, and conflict are crucial skills for tech leaders.

10:00 AM

Difficult conversations framework

Learning a structured approach to prepare for and conduct challenging discussions. Role-playing.

11:30 AM

Effective feedback techniques (SBI model)

Mastering the situation-behavior-impact model for clear, actionable feedback. Practice sessions.

1:00 PM

Lunch & networking

2:00 PM

Conflict resolution strategies (PAUSE model)

Understanding conflict styles and applying the PAUSE model to navigate disagreements productively.

3:30 PM

Integrating the skills

Applying learned frameworks to complex, real-world tech leadership scenarios. Group discussions.

4:30 PM

Action planning & wrap-up

Creating a personal action plan and committing to applying these skills.

Investment

Early bird: $995 | Regular: $1,495

What you get

  • Confidence in handling difficult conversations
  • Skill in delivering effective feedback (SBI)
  • Strategies for resolving workplace conflicts (PAUSE)
  • Comprehensive workshop materials and frameworks
  • 1:1 post-workshop coaching session
  • 6 months access to online learning platform
  • Lifetime access to alumni community

Includes

  • Comprehensive workshop materials and resources
  • Interactive exercises and role-playing scenarios
  • Personalized action plan for your leadership journey
  • Post-workshop 1:1 coaching session

Kind words

I was so impressed with the impact the program made that we expanded it to a different audience in the following year. The customisation Andrew made to the content really made it stick with our team.

Justin Gould

Head of Technology

The mindsets and models around difficult conversations, such as poor performance, have helped me be more confident and successful in handling them.

Barry Scott

Engineering Manager, Mobile Apps

Andrew breaks down complex topics into bite sized tools you can put to practice straight away. Highly recommend.

Tate Johnson

CTO, The Lookout Way

Andrew's teachings have enabled me to develop a high-trust, empowered team of developers; they have given me the confidence to trust in my leadership and management abilities.

Michael Lambert

Head of Engineering, Tapendium

Trusted by

Australia PostREA GroupReeceToyotaXeroLinktreeAccentureEverest EngineeringPlaysideRate My Agent

Your facilitator

Andrew Murphy

Former software developer who has held various leadership positions in consultancies and SaaS companies like Linktree. With the right support, Andrew believes that everyone can become the leader they want to be, which is why he now focuses on teaching those skills.

By sharing his experiences, tools, and techniques, Andrew equips emerging and new tech leaders with the necessary skills for success in the modern workplace.

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Get started

Interested in this workshop?

Get in touch to discuss running this workshop for your team, or to find out about upcoming public workshop dates.