The Tricky Conversations Labs – Stay in the Room 7th December 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.

Stay in the Room

How to navigate high emotions and keep relationships intact.

Session Details

• Date: Monday 7th December 2026 

• Time: 12:00–13:30 (UK time) 

• Location: Online via Microsoft Teams 

What happens when a conversation doesn’t go quite as planned?

Someone becomes upset, frustrated or defensive. The atmosphere changes, emotions rise and suddenly the conversation feels much harder to manage.

And it’s not always the other person who becomes emotional. Sometimes our own frustration, discomfort or defensiveness can make a difficult conversation even harder.

It’s natural to want to smooth things over, retreat or bring the conversation to a quick end. But sometimes the most valuable thing we can do is learn how to stay present and work through the discomfort.

What will we explore? 

In this third lab, we’ll explore how to respond when emotions run high, manage our own reactions and keep conversations constructive without damaging the relationship.

We’ll look at: 

• Why difficult conversations can trigger strong emotional responses.

• How our own reactions can help or hinder the situation.

• Ways to remain calm, curious and constructive under pressure.

• How to acknowledge emotions without losing sight of the conversation’s purpose.

• Practical approaches to maintaining trust, landing important messages and encouraging action when things get difficult.

Why does this matter? 

Not every difficult conversation will feel comfortable, and that’s okay.

The challenge is learning how to respond when emotions surface, rather than allowing them to derail the discussion or damage the relationship.

Staying in the room doesn’t mean having all the answers. It means developing the confidence to listen, respond thoughtfully and keep the conversation moving, even when it feels uncomfortable.

And when we get this right, even the trickiest conversations can lead to stronger relationships, greater understanding and positive change.