Participant (anonymous), Family Format - Rating: 9/10
"We participated in this course as a family. The techniques presented and the discussions were very interesting and enriched our conversations."
Workshop - Tense Conversations — Communicating with clarity and presence under pressure
YOU...
Tense conversations—critical feedback, disagreements with a superior, delivering bad news, managing interpersonal conflict—are often avoided, postponed, or handled poorly.
This isn't due to a lack of skill, but rather a lack of emotional regulation. When the nervous system is activated, thought narrows, fear and anticipation rise, words fail, and reactivity replaces reflection.
The quality of a difficult conversation depends less on what is said than on the state of mind one is in when it is said.
You avoid certain conversations for fear of the emotional reaction — yours or the other person's.
You leave difficult conversations exhausted, without really knowing if the message has gotten through.
You must regularly conduct feedback, reprimand, or conflict management interviews.
You're looking for a practical approach — not ready-made formulas, but real training
Why choose this path?
A pragmatic approach that radically transforms your relationship with everyday life.
Understanding why difficult conversations trigger stress — and how to defuse that before entering the conversation
Mastering a clear communication structure: what I observe, what I feel, what I ask
Develop your presence and composure in tense situations.
Practice in real-world conditions — with role-playing and feedback
Learning to listen to the other person's emotions without being destabilized by them
Step 1 — Regulation precedes communication
In a high-stakes conversation, the nervous system activates even before the first words are exchanged. The amygdala perceives the risk of judgment, rejection, or loss of control—and reduces access to the prefrontal cortex, the seat of listening, precise formulation, and empathy.
It's not the skill itself that's lacking; it's access to that skill that's cut off. Emotional regulation—through breathing and consciously distancing oneself from emotions—is not an optional preparatory step. It's the condition that determines the quality of everything that follows.
Step 2 — Understanding the three invisible conversations
The model developed by Stone, Patton, and Heen (Harvard Negotiation Project) shows that in any conflict, three conversations take place simultaneously:
1) a conversation about the facts (each party only has part of the story),
2) a conversation about emotions (unexpressed emotions fuel tension),
3) and a conversation about identity (what the situation says about me—am I competent, respected, recognized?).
It is often this third, most invisible level that makes the situation so sensitive. Shifting from a defensive posture to one of curiosity—understanding before persuading—is the key to transformation.
What the workshop contains
* Why difficult conversations trigger stress — the neurology of interpersonal conflict
* Preparing your inner state before entering a tense conversation: breathing, intention, grounding
* Active listening under pressure: how to stay present when the other person is emotional
* Role-playing based on real-life situations brought by participants
* How to end a difficult conversation so that the agreement is lasting
Formats:
2-3 hour workshop — in-person attendance strongly recommended (role-playing)
Group of 6 to 16 people — in-house training
Terms :
Contact us for a quote. OPCO financing eligible.