The Tricky Conversations Labs – Say the Thing 23rd 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.

Say the Thing

How to deliver difficult messages with clarity and care.

Session Details

• Date: Monday 23rd November 2026

• Time: 12:00–13:30 (UK time)

• Location: Online via Microsoft Teams

Ever found yourself putting off a conversation because you’re not quite sure how someone will react?

Perhaps you’ve softened a message so much that the point gets lost, or avoided saying something altogether in the hope that the situation might resolve itself.

Having honest conversations is an essential part of leadership, but it can be tempting to prioritise keeping the peace over saying what really needs to be said.

What will we explore?

In this first lab, we’ll explore why managers and leaders sometimes avoid difficult messages, what gets in the way of being direct and how to communicate with both clarity and care.

We’ll look at:

• Why we avoid conversations we know we need to have.

• How good intentions can sometimes lead to unclear messages.

• Ways to be honest and direct without losing empathy.

• How to make sure a message really lands, rather than assuming we’ve been understood.

• Practical approaches to encouraging meaningful action following a conversation.

Why does this matter?

When important messages are avoided or diluted, misunderstandings can grow, expectations remain unclear and small issues can become bigger problems.

Being clear doesn’t mean being harsh. And showing care doesn’t mean avoiding the truth.

The real challenge is having a conversation that not only gets the message across, but encourages positive change while keeping the relationship intact.