Mastering Difficult Leadership Conversations: Watch the Full Workshop Recording

Why Do Difficult Leadership Conversations Go So Wrong?

Avoiding difficult leadership conversations is one of the most common—and costly—mistakes business leaders make. Whether it’s underperformance, behavioural issues, or unresolved tension, failing to address these situations leads to:

• Loss of trust
• Disengagement
• Reduced productivity
• High staff turnover

Leaders in construction, professional services, and employee-owned businesses face unique challenges. When everyone’s role matters, and relationships are close-knit, it becomes even harder to speak up.

But here’s the good news: you can rewire your brain to lead these conversations with confidence.

Watch the Workshop: Mastering Difficult Leadership Conversations

Led by Alli Gibbons and David Klaasen, this session reveals how neuroscience and paradox thinking can dramatically improve how you handle even the toughest conversations.

Delivered live to leaders across the UK SME sector, this webinar provides a fast-paced, practical, and science-backed approach to leadership communication

What You’ll Learn

🧠 The Neuroscience of Difficult Conversations

• How the amygdala hijack impacts emotional control
• Why your prefrontal cortex shuts down under pressure
• How to activate clarity, calm, and curiosity in real time

💬 Why We Avoid Difficult Conversations

• The brain treats social threats like physical pain
• We’re wired to avoid rejection, not resolve conflict
• Assumptions, not clarity, guide most avoidance behaviour

⚠️ Why Difficult Conversations Go Wrong

• We speak with too much certainty, not enough curiosity
• Emotions spread like wildfire in teams
• Lack of structure causes misunderstandings
• Without psychological safety, people shut down

🧩 How to Fix It: Neuroscience + Paradox Thinking

• Apply the SCARF Model to reduce defensiveness
• Use the Ask–Tell–Ask method for evidence-based feedback
• Balance confidence and curiosity with the Paradox of Insightful Curiosity
• Shift from control to coaching using practical tools that work.

Who Should Watch This Workshop?

This session is perfect for:
✔️ Leaders in SMEs with 50–500 staff
✔️ Directors and managers in construction, consulting, and employee-owned firms
✔️ Business owners looking to increase team accountability and trust
✔️ Anyone frustrated by uncomfortable conversations, conflict, or avoidance

💬 What Attendees Are Saying
“The most practical session on communication I’ve attended in years.”
“Now I understand why some conversations go so wrong—and how to fix them.”
“That one concept—Insightful Curiosity—has completely shifted how I lead.”

Tools & Resources

📊 Discover your Clarity Score
Take our free Clarity Matrix Scorecard here

🤝 Book your free consultation
Book a complimentary clarity conversation here

With best regards,

David and Alli

Talent4Performance help business leaders clarify complexity. We inspire people and drive continuous performance improvement, so they can convert thinking into action and results.