Constructive Debates And Difficult Conversations At Work

How to Communicate Effectively Through Disagreement and Improve Decision-Making

What you'll learn

Establish psychological safety for open and honest debate

Apply active listening and empathy techniques during discussions

Construct logical, evidence-based arguments

Manage emotions effectively during heated debates

Facilitate productive group discussions

Build consensus whilst respecting diverse viewpoints

Use feedback mechanisms for continuous improvement

Requirements

At least an Intermediate level of English

Description

Master Workplace Communication: Professional Discussion Skills CourseThis professional development course equips you with essential communication skills to turn challenging workplace conversations into collaborative problem-solving opportunities. Learn to navigate difficult discussions, influence without authority, and drive better decision-making through effective dialogue techniques.7 Progressive Learning Modules:1. Foundations - establishing psychological safety and creating the right environment 2. Active Listening and Empathy - core skills for understanding different perspectives 3. Logical Arguments - constructing evidence-based, persuasive cases 4. Emotional Management - handling heated discussions professionally 5. Facilitation - guiding productive group debates 6. Decision-Making - building consensus and moving forward 7. Continuous Improvement - feedback and skill developmentThis course is ideal if you:Feel frustrated by unproductive meetings that go nowhereStruggle to get your ideas heard in group discussionsAvoid difficult conversations or workplace conflictWant to facilitate better team discussionsNeed to influence colleagues and stakeholders effectivelyAre preparing for leadership or management rolesWork across departments and need stronger collaboration skillsWant to improve your professional presence and impactKey Benefits:Improved meeting effectiveness and team dynamicsEnhanced leadership and influence skillsBetter conflict resolution abilitiesStronger stakeholder managementIncreased confidence in challenging conversationsSuitable for professionals at all career levels, from graduates to senior managers. These communication techniques work in any industry and can be adapted for remote, hybrid, or in-person work environments.These skills also enhance personal relationships and community involvement outside the workplace.

Overview

Section 1: Introduction

Lecture 1 Introduction

Lecture 2 The Challenge We Face

Section 2: What Makes a Debate Constructive?

Lecture 3 Five Key Characteristics

Lecture 4 The Business Case for Constructive Debate

Section 3: Psychological Safety for Constructive Debates

Lecture 5 Creating Psychological Safety

Lecture 6 Key Elements of Psychological Safety

Lecture 7 Practical Strategies to Create Psychological Safety 1

Lecture 8 Practical Strategies to Create Psychological Safety 2

Lecture 9 Exercise 1 - Psychological Safety Assessment

Lecture 10 What Did You Discover?

Lecture 11 Action Planning

Section 4: Active Listening and Empathy

Lecture 12 Introduction and Learning Objectives

Lecture 13 Why We Struggle to Listen

Lecture 14 Active Listening

Lecture 15 Core Technique: Paraphrasing

Lecture 16 Core Technique 2 - Clarifying Questions

Lecture 17 Core Technique 3 - Emotional Validation

Lecture 18 Core Technique 4 - Summarising

Lecture 19 Building Empathy in Debates

Lecture 20 Empathy-Building Strategies

Lecture 21 Empathy in Action - Case Study

Lecture 22 Exercise 2 - Empathetic Listening Practice

Lecture 23 Exercise Debrief: What Did You Discover?

Lecture 24 Overcoming Empathy Barriers

Lecture 25 Key Takeaways

Lecture 26 Action Planning: Your Practice Assignment

Section 5: Constructing Logical Arguments

Lecture 27 Introduction and Learning Objectives

Lecture 28 The Problem with Weak Arguments

Lecture 29 The Anatomy of a Strong Argument

Lecture 30 STAR-E Framework Example

Lecture 31 Crafting Clear, Compelling Statements

Lecture 32 Truth: Evidence Hierarchy and Evaluation Criteria

Lecture 33 Assumptions: Making the Invisible Visible

Lecture 34 Reasoning: Building Logical Bridges

Lecture 35 Exceptions: Acknowledging Limitations and Counter-Arguments

Lecture 36 Avoiding Logical Fallacies

Lecture 37 Putting It All Together - Complete Example

Lecture 38 Exercise: Argument Construction

Lecture 39 Key Takeaways

Lecture 40 Your Practice Assignment

Section 6: Managing Emotions in Debates

Lecture 41 Introduction and Objectives

Lecture 42 Why Emotions Run High in Debates,

Lecture 43 Emotional Triggers

Lecture 44 Physiology: What Happens in Your Body

Lecture 45 Before Debates - Preparation Strategies

Lecture 46 During Debates - Real-Time Management

Lecture 47 Strategic Breathing Techniques and Reflection

Lecture 48 Post-Discussion Strategies

Lecture 49 De-escalation Strategies

Lecture 50 Advanced De-escalation Techniques

Lecture 51 Managing Others' Emotions

Lecture 52 Case Study - The Budget Allocation Debate

Lecture 53 Emotional Awareness Practical Exercise

Lecture 54 Building Emotional Resilience

Lecture 55 Key Takeaways

Lecture 56 Your Practice Assignments

Section 7: Facilitating Productive Debates

Lecture 57 Module Introduction and Objectives

Lecture 58 The Challenge of Group Decisions

Lecture 59 The Role of The Facilitator

Lecture 60 Responsibilities of the Facilitator

Lecture 61 Structured Framework 1 - Six Thinking Hats

Lecture 62 Structured Framework 2 - Pro-Con-Fix

Lecture 63 Structured Framework 3 - WRAP Method

Lecture 64 Managing Difficult Participants

Lecture 65 Strategies for The Dominator

Lecture 66 Strategies for The Silent Participant

Lecture 67 Strategies for The Critic

Lecture 68 Strategies for The People-Pleaser

Lecture 69 Case Study - The Customer Service System Decision

Lecture 70 Exercise - Mental Facilitation Practice

Lecture 71 Key Takeaways

Lecture 72 Your Practice Assignments

Section 8: Decision-Making and Consensus Building

Lecture 73 Introduction and Objectives

Lecture 74 Why Groups Struggle to Decide

Lecture 75 Five Decision-Making Models

Lecture 76 Matching Methods to Situations

Lecture 77 Specialised Decision-Making Approaches

Lecture 78 Building Genuine Consensus - The Six Steps

Lecture 79 Language for Testing Consensus

Lecture 80 When Consensus Isn't Possible

Lecture 81 Case Study - The Marketing Budget Dilemma

Lecture 82 Exercise - Consensus Building Practice

Lecture 83 Building Commitment Beyond Agreement

Lecture 84 Common Consensus Building Mistakes

Lecture 85 Key Takeaways

Section 9: Continuous Improvement Through Feedback

Lecture 86 Introduction to Module 7

Lecture 87 Why Skills Plateau Without Systems

Lecture 88 Creating Feedback-Rich Environments

Lecture 89 The Feedback Challenge in Communication Skills

Lecture 90 The SBI Feedback Model

Lecture 91 The COIN Feedback Method

Lecture 92 Receiving Feedback Effectively

Lecture 93 Self-Assessment Framework

Lecture 94 Team Assessment and Development

Lecture 95 Building Personal Development Plans

Lecture 96 Creating Accountability Systems

Lecture 97 Exercise: Creating Your Action Plan

Lecture 98 Organizational Implementation

Section 10: Course Integration and Synthesis

Lecture 99 How All Seven Modules Work Together

Lecture 100 Your Complete Professional Toolkit

Lecture 101 The Ripple Effect of Your Development

Project Managers who need to build consensus among diverse stakeholders,Team Leaders and Supervisors responsible for facilitating productive team discussions,Business Analysts who must present findings and build support for recommendations,Consultants (internal and external) who influence through expertise rather than authority,Department Heads managing cross-functional initiatives and resource allocation decisions,Senior Individual Contributors seeking to enhance their leadership presence and influence,Anyone who talks to other human beings