Mastering Difficult Conversations

"I’ve Talked About It 5 Times, but Nothing Changes..."

It’s common to think that difficult conversations arise from a problematic topic. However, the real tension builds when the same issue keeps resurfacing. We end up stuck in a cycle of frustration, diminishing confidence, and growing tension, and it can feel like results are impossible to achieve.

This training is designed to help you break that cycle. These types of conversations don’t have to drain your energy or damage relationships.

In this training you will gain practical tools to:

End exhausting, unproductive conversations
Break the cycle that fails to improve results or relationships
Strengthen relationships within your team and boost performance

All of this will be achieved in a way that maintains trust and builds confidence for the future. You don’t have to choose between stress-free communication and achieving results — you can have both.

“A leader’s fear of damaging relationships prevents achieving results. Yet at the same time, they know that avoidance is not an option. It’s a tough spot to be in.”

- Elar Killumets -

Who is this training for?

For leaders who want to break free from conversations where time is spent but no results follow.
For leaders aiming to develop their coaching or mentoring skills.
For leaders who wish to strengthen their decision-making skills in high-pressure situations.
For HR professionals supporting others through tough conversations (1:1 or in teams).
For those interested in the logic of systemic thinking in leadership.
For Clear Leadership™ and Tough Stuff™ alumni to refresh their skills.

Group size:
2 to 20
participants

Training Format

Preferably in one room together, but 100% online also works well.

Duration

1 day / 8 hours

Languages

The training is conducted in English or Estonian.

Group size: 2 to 20
participants

Group size: 2 to 20 participants

Training Format

Preferably in one room together, but 100% online also works well.

Duration

1 day / 8 hours

Languages

The training is conducted in English or Estonian.

Testimonials

"Why didn’t I know this earlier!? Such an energizing and uplifting training."

"At first, it felt like swimming against the current, but it really works!"

"A very different approach to tough conversations, but the results speak for themselves."

"So simple, and yet (for emotional reasons) sometimes so hard."

"Why didn’t I know this earlier!? Such an energizing and uplifting training."

"At first, it felt like swimming against the current, but it really works!"

"A very different approach to tough conversations, but the results speak for themselves."

"So simple, and yet (for emotional reasons) sometimes so hard."

"75% of leaders avoid addressing recurring issues because experience has shown that it only adds to the frustration."

- Elar Killumets -

Build-up of the Training

The training is based on the principles of Systemic Communication Theory.

PART I

Theory

We will explore the fundamentals of communication. The training is based on the principles of Systemic Communication Theory, which helps understand how all communication models work.

This gives participants the freedom to choose the approach that suits them best and the skill to adapt it to their unique style.

When a desired result is not achieved, most people’s instinctive choice is to focus even more on the problem that needs solving. Counterintuitively, this reduces the likelihood of reaching a solution.

PART II

Practical Techniques 75%

1. Emotional Dynamics

How different parties perceive the same situation.

2. Clear Expectations

How to be clear in your expectations while being considerate of others.

3, Active Listening

The role of listening in both delivering and receiving a message.

4. Problem vs Process

The balance between focusing on the problem and focusing on the process of the conversation.

Trainers with Practical Experience

CONTINENTS

YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

0 +

1:1 CONVERS. PER YEAR

0 +

TEAMS PER YEAR

0 +

Trainer

Elar Killumets

Elar helps leaders to prepare around 70 challenging conversations each year, with half taking place in Estonia and the other half internationally (US, Japan, Sweden, Germany).

In addition to one-on-one coaching, he works with 30+ teams annually, guiding them through tough topics and helping define clear action plans.

This training distills all the insights Elar has gained through years of hands-on experience in communication and handling difficult conversations — designed to give you practical tools you can use immediately.

Trainer

Reelika Kravets

For the past 3 years, Reelika has been leading hundreds of difficult conversations between partners in relationships and other family members as a family therapist.

Previously, over the course of 10 years, she has supported leaders and team members in various organizations by facilitating crucial conversations, and she continues this work today as a consultant alongside her psychotherapy practice.

Amid the everyday hustle and the tension people often carry, it’s difficult for them to notice how getting stuck on the “problematic topic” is what strains the relationship. Reelika helps parties look beyond what is being discussed and explore what is happening at the relational level. In her work, Reelika focuses on how to make conversations productive and take them to the next level.