Giving Powerful Feedback and Carrying Out Challenging Conversations Effectively

Overview

This highly interactive workshop, led by professional actors who are also executive coaches, creates a safe, supportive environment in which participants can practise giving feedback and managing challenging conversations with colleagues, customers, managers, or staff.

Through realistic scenarios and personalised coaching, attendees build confidence, skill, and clarity in handling challenging interactions at work.

Workshop Content and Actor-Led Options

The workshop is available as a half-day or full-day programme. Depending on the chosen duration, the workshop will include some or all of the following areas:

Models of Good Practice

Principles of effective communication and feedback models
Approaches to handling sensitive or complex situations
Aligning conversations with organisational policies and expectations.

Forum Theatre

The group observes a scene performed by the actors based on a real workplace challenge. The attendees provide feedback on what worked and what didn’t work in the interaction, from the manager’s perspective. They then actively redirect the action to achieve a better outcome.

This immersive method allows participants to experiment with different approaches, see how small changes in language or behaviour shift the dynamic, and gain insight into the impact of their communication choices.

One‑to‑One Coaching with Actor-Coaches

Delegates work individually with an actor‑coach to rehearse a real conversation they need to have or replay a conversation that they have had that didn’t go well.

This tailored practice enables them to practise the real conversation, test alternative strategies, receive honest in‑role feedback, and experience genuine light‑bulb moments that can transform future interactions.

What Participants Will Learn

By the end of the workshop, participants will have:

Identified common barriers to initiating and sustaining challenging conversations
Explored practical techniques for giving feedback constructively and confidently
Practised applying these techniques in realistic scenarios
Developed greater self‑awareness and confidence in managing challenging workplace interactions.

Course Tutors

The workshop is facilitated by experienced actors who are also executive coaches, trained to ILM Level 7, and specialising in communication skills, behavioural change, and professional development.