AGENDA
THE PSYCHOLOGY AND PRACTICE OF HIGH STAKES CONVERSATIONS
Develop the internal clarity, frameworks, and confidence to lead difficult conversations with purpose and precision​
9:00
Welcome and Strategic Framing
Setting the Intent: Your Leadership Challenge
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Workshop objectives and strategic outcomes
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Peer introductions: Share a current or upcoming high-stakes conversation you're navigating
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Clarify personal intent: What do you want to strengthen, shift, or lead differently?
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Outcome: Begin with a clear leadership lens and define the strategic conversations that matter most in your current context.
9:30
The Neuroscience of High-Stakes Dialogue
Understanding the Science Behind Reactions and Resistance
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The physiological and neurological impact of stress on communication
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Emotional triggers, leadership blind spots, and how they show up in conversation
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Techniques to regulate your emotional state before and during critical moments
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Identifying the signals of psychological safety in teams
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Activity: Map your personal conflict and stress response pattern; identify high-impact shifts to enhance communication effectiveness.
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Outcome: Gain self-awareness and regulation tools to lead conversations from a place of composure, not reactivity.
10:30
Morning Tea
11:00
Communication Tools That Cut Through
Practical Frameworks for Clarity, Empathy, and Authority
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Advanced listening and questioning techniques that drive clarity and connection
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Leveraging the CLEAR Communication™ model for challenging dialogue
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Scripts, prompts, and phrasing strategies to handle pushback and defensiveness
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Activity: Addressing underperformance or return-to-office resistance
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Outcome: Build a structured communication toolkit to approach any conversation with clarity, purpose, and impact.
12:30
Networking Lunch
1:30
Constructive Conflict and Accountability Conversations
Turning Tension into Strategic Alignment
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Reframing conflict as a leadership opportunity
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Navigating difficult feedback while maintaining team morale
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Applying the 4F Feedback™ and DEAL Conversation™ models
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Role-play: Leading a feedback conversation with a high-performer who is underdelivering
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Peer insight: How different leaders approach conflict in complex settings
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Outcome: Build capability and confidence in delivering tough messages while fostering accountability and growth.
3:00
Afternoon Tea
3:30
From Doubt to Decisiveness
Breaking the Loop of Overthinking and Perfectionism
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How high-achieving leaders get caught in second-guessing
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Cognitive biases that impact decision-making under pressure
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How to pivot from hesitation to decisive, aligned action
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Self-coaching prompts to strengthen confidence when leading alone
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Activity: Identify a recent moment of indecision or avoidance; apply the Decision Under Pressure™ checklist
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Outcome: Learn practical strategies to lead with certainty, even in ambiguous or emotionally charged environments.
4:30
Executive Reflections and Q&A
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Integration and Insight
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Reflective journaling: What changed for you today?
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Peer insights and “aha” moments
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Outcome: Anchor Day 1 learning, clarify your next-level leadership challenge, and prepare to deepen your skills on Day 2.