Delivering Tough News: Communicating Challenges with Clarity and Confidence
Delivering bad news is never easy, but how you handle it can make all the difference in maintaining trust and professionalism. This workshop equips leaders with practical strategies to navigate difficult conversations, reduce conflict, and turn challenges into opportunities for stronger relationships.
Description
As a project manager or leader, delivering bad news—whether about budget overruns, schedule delays, or resource constraints—is an inevitable part of the job. How you handle these conversations can either strengthen trust or damage relationships. When managed effectively, even difficult discussions can lead to problem-solving, collaboration, and long-term success.
This workshop provides practical strategies for turning tough conversations into opportunities for growth. Participants will learn how to navigate difficult discussions with professionalism, maintain credibility, and transform bad news into constructive dialogue that fosters stronger relationships.
Challenges This Workshop Addresses:
✔ Managing difficult conversations with clients, stakeholders, and team members
✔ Preventing conflicts and misunderstandings when delivering bad news
✔ Maintaining professionalism and composure under pressure
✔ Turning negative situations into opportunities for problem-solving and collaboration
✔ Building trust and credibility even in challenging circumstances
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the key principles of delivering difficult news effectively
- Learn how to turn challenging conversations into opportunities for problem-solving
- Develop strategies to reduce conflict and maintain professional relationships
- Gain techniques to clarify misunderstandings and manage expectations
- Create a structured approach to planning and delivering tough messages with confidence
Delivery Methods: Virtual with Zoom Meetings or In-Person/Classroom delivery available.
Course Fee Includes: Access to the course, course materials, and upon completion a digital certificate if requested.
This course is delivered in partnership with local and provincial construction associations across Canada. You will be participating with a group of industry peers from multiple regions.
Sharing a single registration between two or more individuals is not permitted. Please register each person who will be in attendance.
Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for this course.
Who Should Attend
This course is ideal for project managers, team leaders, supervisors, and anyone responsible for communicating difficult news to clients, stakeholders, or employees. It is especially valuable for those looking to enhance their communication skills, manage tough conversations effectively, and maintain trust in high-pressure situations.
Technical Requirements
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Computer or laptop
- This course will involve on-screen interaction with your instructor and classmates, reading/viewing on-screen content (slides or videos), and interacting via typing with questions or responses. For this reason, cell phones may not be adequate.
- Windows 10 or Mac iOS.
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Webcam (Mandatory) – in order to engage and collaborate, participants will be expected to have their webcams on for the duration of the class
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Microphone (Mandatory)
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Internet connection- For best results, you will want to ensure you have an internet connection with an upload/download speed of 3-5 Mbps. You can test your internet speed here. The minimum recommended speed is 1.5 Mbps, but anything below 3 Mbps may result in loss of quality or buffering. Ideally hardwired connection versus wireless for stability - connect your computer directly to your router using an ethernet cable, rather than using your home wi-fi.
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A quiet space with minimal distractions –The microphone will be engaged for interactive sessions. Please plan to be fully engaged in the class and clear your work schedule just as you would for the in-class program.
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Comfortable chair