Skillbora

Online course · Communication & Leadership

Lead difficult conversations without improvising under pressure.

Learn a complete process for assessing conflict, preparing conversations, de-escalating defensiveness, and reaching clear agreements.

Start now · Introductory price: €49.99Explore course content
Practical structureLearn flexiblyApply it directly at work
01 · Clarity

Prepare conversations with structure

Instead of going in with an uneasy feeling, define your objective, core message, and conversation framework.

02 · Mindset

Stay clear and respectful

Stand by your position without causing unnecessary harm or watering down important issues.

03 · Resolution

Reach workable agreements

Guide the conversation out of tension and toward clear, practical next steps.

The course at a glance

Clear scope. Flexible learning.

All course content is divided into short, easy-to-follow video lessons.

7 hrs 25 minVideo runtime
47Video lessons
9Course sections
FlexibleLearn at your own pace

What you get

  • 47 lessons
  • 9 modules
  • About 7.5 hours
  • Realistic cases
  • Decision tasks and transfer exercises
  • Choose German or English
  • Learn at your own pace

For situations that do not follow a script

  • Someone becomes defensive immediately or starts justifying their actions.
  • Performance or behavior does not improve after previous conversations.
  • A manager blocks an important concern.
  • The other person gets loud, goes silent, or changes the subject.
  • Trust needs to be rebuilt after a conflict.
New

Carefully developed. Grounded in practice.

Editorially developed by Skillbora with clear learning goals, realistic cases, transfer tasks, and a structured quality review.

Curriculum

Full curriculum

9 modules with 47 lessons, collapsed by default on mobile and ready to explore one module at a time.

1. Assess, Decide, and Act Safely5 lessons
  1. What Makes a Conversation Difficult
  2. How Conflict Begins and Escalates
  3. Diagnose Task, Relationship, and Process Conflict
  4. Voice, Psychological Safety, and Power
  5. Direct Conversation, Support, or Formal Process
2. Self-Management and Preparation6 lessons
  1. Clarify Your Role, Goal, and Sphere of Influence
  2. Separate Facts, Judgments, and Assumed Intentions
  3. Prepare the Other Perspective as a Hypothesis
  4. Regulate Your Emotions Before the Conversation
  5. Choose the Right Time, Place, and Medium
  6. Build a Robust Conversation Plan with Alternatives
3. Raise the Issue and Open Dialogue5 lessons
  1. What Effective Feedback Can and Cannot Do
  2. Describe the Situation, Behavior, and Impact Precisely
  3. State Your Concern, Boundary, and Specific Request
  4. Open the Conversation Transparently and Respectfully
  5. Make Role, Power, and Fairness Visible from the Start
4. Explore, Listen, and Understand6 lessons
  1. Make the Quality of Your Listening Visible
  2. Ask Questions That Fit the Conversation Phase
  3. Paraphrase, Summarize, and Check Understanding
  4. Explore Interests, Needs, and Practical Constraints
  5. Shift Perspective Without Mind Reading
  6. Show Understanding Without Abandoning the Issue
5. Manage Challenging Dynamics7 lessons
  1. Respond to Defensiveness and Justification
  2. De-escalate Anger, Raised Voices, and Accusations
  3. Respond to Silence, Tears, and Overwhelm
  4. Limit Counterattacks and Topic Shifts
  5. Clarify Disputed Facts and Different Memories
  6. Set Boundaries, Pause, or End the Conversation
  7. Choose the Next Useful Step Under Pressure
6. Develop Solutions and Reach Agreements5 lessons
  1. Move from Positions to Interests
  2. Develop Several Workable Options
  3. Evaluate Solutions with Transparent Criteria
  4. Create Specific and Verifiable Agreements
  5. Handle Non-Agreement and Consider Mediation
7. Follow Up and Repair Working Relationships4 lessons
  1. Document Outcomes Proportionately
  2. Follow Up on Commitments and Agree on Feedback
  3. Take Responsibility and Repair Trust
  4. Stabilize the Working Relationship After the Conversation
8. Account for Role, Power, and Medium6 lessons
  1. Lead Difficult Conversations Between Colleagues
  2. Address Performance or Behavior as a Manager
  3. Raise Concerns Upward Safely and Effectively
  4. Plan for Power Differences, Support, and Representation
  5. Lead Difficult Conversations Online or in Hybrid Settings
  6. Navigate Sensitive Identity and Discrimination Topics
9. Master the Complete Process3 lessons
  1. Plan and Lead a Complex Case from Start to Finish
  2. Analyze and Restart a Failed Conversation
  3. Final Case and Personal Transfer Plan
From discomfort to confidence

You do not need a perfect script. You need a clear conversation process.

The course combines easy-to-understand models with practical approaches for everyday work. You will learn to assess difficult situations earlier and respond with confidence even when a conversation takes an unexpected turn.

Recognize conflict early

Assess tensions before they become entrenched or escalate unnecessarily.

Formulate core messages

Communicate observations, effects, and expectations in a way others can follow.

Handle reactions professionally

Stay calm and engaged when faced with resistance, defensiveness, or strong emotions.

Your learning outcomes

What you will handle with greater confidence

This is not abstract communication training, but a practical toolkit for the conversations that matter in real working life.

Assess situations accurately

Distinguish factual disagreements, relationship conflicts, and emotionally charged conversation situations.

Prepare conversations strategically

Define objectives, room for negotiation, core messages, and possible reactions in advance.

Speak plainly and respectfully

Address critical points clearly and separate observation, interpretation, and expectation.

Secure binding outcomes

Summarize agreements precisely and establish transparent next steps.

Course roadmap

A clear path through difficult conversations

Understand the situation and conflict dynamics

What is the conversation really about, and what makes it difficult?

Understand

Prepare the conversation with purpose

Plan objectives, your core message, the setting, and possible reactions.

Prepare

Communicate clearly and respectfully

Address critical issues without attacking unnecessarily or avoiding the point.

Lead

De-escalate emotions and resistance

Listen under pressure, maintain boundaries, and guide the discussion back to the issue.

Stabilize

Secure agreements and next steps

Document outcomes and clarify responsibilities unambiguously.

Conclude
Who is this course for?

For people who take responsibility

Professionals

For addressing critical issues with colleagues, clients, or managers more confidently.

Project leads

For clarifying expectations, moderating tension, and making collaboration more reliable.

Managers

For anyone responsible for feedback, conflict, and performance conversations.

Start right away

More clarity for your next difficult conversation.

Invest in a skill you will use again and again in leadership, collaboration, and personal development.

Introductory price€49.99Buy course now · Introductory price: €49.99
Frequently asked questions

Still deciding? Here are the key answers.

What experience level is the course suitable for?

The course is suitable for beginners as well as experienced professionals and managers.

Do I need leadership experience?

No. The methods help in many professional conversations with colleagues, clients, project stakeholders, or employees.

Can I apply the content immediately?

Yes. The course focuses on practical preparation, conversation techniques, de-escalation, and agreements for everyday work.

What language is the course in?

This course version is taught entirely in English.

How do I get access?

After purchasing through Tentary, you will receive the information you need to access the course.

Lead the conversation that creates real progress.

Prepare with structure, stay clear under pressure, and develop workable solutions together.

Start now · Introductory price: €49.99