The Tricky Conversations Labs – Hold the Line 30rd November 2026

Three conversations. Three practical lunchtime learning sessions. One shared challenge: getting better at the conversations that matter.

Whether it’s delivering difficult feedback, encouraging someone to take ownership or navigating an emotional response, tricky conversations are part of everyday working life.

But having the conversation is only half of the challenge. How do we make sure our message lands, leads to meaningful action and leaves the working relationship just as strong, if not stronger?

Enact Solutions and Bounce Coaching & Development have teamed up to bring you The Tricky Conversations Labs, a series of three free, interactive 90-minute lunchtime sessions exploring some of the most common conversational challenges faced by managers and leaders.

Think of them as conversation gyms! A relaxed, supportive space to explore practical tools and techniques, watch realistic workplace scenarios brought to life by professional actors, and discover how different approaches can change the outcome of a conversation.

There’ll be plenty of opportunities to contribute, share experiences and try out ideas in a safe environment, but equally, you’re welcome to simply watch, listen, and take it all in.

The three labs

• Lab 1: Say the Thing – Delivering difficult messages with clarity and care.
  Monday 23rd November 2026 | 12:00–13:30

• Lab 2: Hold the Line – Encouraging accountability and ownership.
  Monday 30th November 2026 | 12:00–13:30

• Lab 3: Stay in the Room – Navigating high emotions while maintaining relationships.
  Monday 7th December 2026 | 12:00–13:30

All sessions are free to attend and hosted online via Microsoft Teams.

Each lab offers its own practical insights and takeaways, while the three sessions build on each other to explore the different challenges of tricky conversations.

Join us for one, two or all three!

Bring your lunch, bring your curiosity and come away with something practical to put into action.

Free to attend. Places are limited.

Hold the Line

How to encourage accountability and ownership without taking everything on yourself.

Session Details

• Date: Monday 30th November 2026 

• Time: 12:00–13:30 (UK time) 

• Location: Online via Microsoft Teams 

Have you ever found yourself stepping in to solve a problem that someone else could have worked through themselves?

Or left a conversation wondering how you’ve somehow ended up taking responsibility for something that wasn’t yours to fix?

As managers, it’s natural to want to help. But sometimes, in trying to be supportive, we unintentionally take ownership away from the very people we’re trying to develop.

What will we explore? 

In this second lab, we’ll explore how managers can encourage people to take greater ownership of their actions and decisions, without jumping in to rescue them or taking responsibility themselves.

We’ll look at: 

• Why people sometimes avoid taking ownership or responsibility.

• How managers can unintentionally take accountability away from others.

• Ways to set and maintain clear expectations.

• How to support people to find their own solutions rather than stepping in to fix things.

• Practical approaches to challenging a lack of ownership while maintaining positive working relationships.

Why does this matter? 

When accountability is unclear, managers can find themselves chasing, reminding, stepping in or taking on work that should sit elsewhere.

Over time, this can create frustration, dependency, and a lack of ownership across teams.

Holding the line isn’t about being rigid or difficult. It’s about creating clarity, encouraging responsibility and supporting people to work through challenges themselves.

And importantly, it’s about ensuring conversations lead to meaningful action and change, rather than simply having the same discussion again next week.