Difficult Conversations Don’t Have to Be Difficult

Difficult conversations and sharing feedback do not need to become conflict situations. When we approach difficult conversations with clarity, respect and a growth mindset versus judgement and negativity, difficult conversations turn away from conflict and become powerful opportunities. 

Showing that we are trustworthy lowers defences for everyone and invites the other person - or people into the conversation and next steps. At these times, those conversations become safe opportunities to inspire greatness, share ideas, discuss risks and learn from mistakes, all of which are essential for high-performing teams.

In the end, when we show the other person that we care about them, the work, their long-term success and of course the success of the team and organization we can be confident we have built a respectful culture based on respect, safety, care and shared values.

 

Hi, I'm Bruce Mayhew

My goal is to help you define and implement interactive and relevant human-skills / soft-skills training that meets your objectives and is right for your organization and your employees.

I specialize in helping leaders grow and keep their team adapting and their organizations thriving. That often means tailoring our existing business etiquette and human-skills training programs to meet the needs of my clients and their employees.

As a former Scotiabank leader, I spent 11 years in roles spanning sales & marketing, corporate marketing, and cash management—work that included launching debit point-of-sale in major markets, training national corporate sales teams, and supporting merger integrations. That early experience honed the strategic clarity and human-centred approach that I now brings to every engagement. 

Today, clients value me and my work for my clear frameworks, energizing delivery, and immediately usable tools—whether I’m guiding a room through a tough feedback conversation or teaching busy executives how to write email that get understood and answered. My training pillars—Write/Listen/Speak, Work Efficiently, and Leadership & Strategy—anchor custom solutions that match each organization’s culture, strategy, and goals.

I am a keynote speaker, professional development trainer, executive coach and author with over 20 years of experience. I have earned a reputation as a transformational leader and facilitator specializing in leadership development, difficult conversations / crucial conversations training, generational differences, email etiquette, time management and more.

In my personal time I volunteer for a number of local and national charities. I have been a board member on multiple Toronto based grass-roots not-for-profit agencies and am a recently retired part-time SPIN instructor which I loved doing for over 20-years.

Benefits of Difficult Conversations & Conflict Management Training for Your Organization and Teams

It's natural to dislike challenging crucial conversations, and yet learning why conflict at work happens, the benefits of resolution and how to have them is part of a well-balanced professional development plan. After our skills training course participants will:

  1. Enhance trust and collaboration

    Trust is the foundation of any successful team, and collaboration cannot flourish without it. Employees learn why trust matters and how to build trust by learning to approach difficult conversations safely and effectively, promoting stronger, more trusting cross-department relationships where every team member feels heard, valued, and is able to contribute.

  2. Reduce workplace stress

    Workplace stress often stems from unresolved conflict and unmanaged emotions. Training provides framework and tools that help participants recognize early signs of conflict and the opportunity to master their emotions and triggers which minimizes anxiety and fosters a healthier, more resilient work environment and resolve conflict.

  3. Understand avoidance is natural

    Recognize avoiding conflict and difficult conversations is a natural response that can be influenced by beliefs and ego. Most people shy away from uncomfortable conversations, hoping issues will resolve themselves. However, avoidance can often undermine trust, stall performance, and lead to higher turnover. When leaders recognize avoidance as a natural behaviour, they can address its root causes and create a safe team culture where concerns can be voiced safely.

  4. Increased productivity

    Learn when and how to say No... respectfully, and how to provide constructive feedback, and resolve issues quickly in a productive, supportive way.  Having difficult conversations when challenges arise prevents small challenges from escalating into conflict, ensuring employees and teams stay proud of their work and focused on shared goals. This approach improves productivity and builds a culture of continuous improvement and accountability.

  5. Improve employee engagement and retention

    Employee engagement and retention depend on a respectful, inclusive team culture. We explore how to use proven negotiation strategies especially when people are angry in order to protect and support a safe and respectful team culture, leading to higher employee satisfaction and higher retention. When employees feel respected and valued, they are more likely to stay, contribute fully, and become champions of the organization’s values.

Our Approach to Difficult Conversations & Conflict Management

Toronto Difficult Conversations training expert and executive coach Bruce Mayhew Consulting provides practical step-by-step solutions supported by real life examples. We explore unique solutions that have great impact like:

  • How to discuss what matters most.
  • Why it's best to always consider a personal / emotional resolution.
  • The top mistakes most people make when having difficult conversations.

These conversations and negotiations are important, that's why we also explore the impact of:

  • Triggers
  • Judgment
  • Assumptions
  • Fear
  • Beliefs

You are one email or phone call away from an interactive, customized solution. Give us a call at 417.617.0462 or email us at bruce@brucemayhew.com.

Let's get started

Who Should Attend?

Difficult conversations training is for all employees who manage staff, work in collaborative environments and/or who routinely negotiate or deal with difficult people (customers or suppliers). Confidently turn crucial conversations into constructive conversations.

To learn more about how you and your organization can benefit, call us at 416.617.0462.

Difficult Conversations, Crucial Conversations and Conflict Management Tips

Training Tip #1: Be clear on what is truly important

Know what you want to achieve in advance. Be sure to stay positive, listen without judging and don't be defensive. Difficult conversations are emotional and can be stressful for everyone, but it's important we try not to BE emotional during the conversation. We apply Emotion Focused Therapy to help participants understand their feelings and the feelings of their stakeholders.

Tip #2: Make sure the timing is right

Everyone involved has to be 100% present and not distracted - therefore - make sure you do this (as best you can), when everyone is at their best.

For example - you don't want to have a difficult conversation as your associate is running out the door late for a meeting - or when you and your partner are pulling up to a New Years eve party.

Tip #3: It only needs to be a little uncomfortable

Know that it's going to be uncomfortable for you and the other person / people... so, be comfortable with the idea that you will be uncomfortable.

Knowing you are going to feel uncomfortable during a difficult conversation will help you keep your focus and your emotions in check.

What I can help you with

Related management training that drives business success

  • Inspired Leadership Skills Development

    Leadership training helps new and existing leaders successfully deliver the corporate strategy and build a corporate culture that ignites potential, bringing out the best in everyone.

  • Difficult Conversations

    Difficult Conversation Training provides the skills needed to navigate sensitive topics, resolve conflicts, and foster a culture of open communication, helping teams become better at problem-solving and decision-making.

  • Generational Differences

    Generational differences training explores how to create a workspace where Boomers, Gen X, Millennials and Gen Z employees feel valued and are productive. We focus on leadership, communication styles and how to inspire greatness. We also explore cultural differences.

  • Time & Priority Management

    Time Management Training provides team members practical tools and strategies to prioritize tasks, balance workloads, reduce stress, and increase productivity as they free up valuable time to enjoy innovation and collaboration.

  • Email Etiquette for Professionals

    Professional email etiquette training teaches how to get to the point quickly and help your reader understand your message at a glance. Communicating clearly helps you build your professional reputation and save time.

  • Hiring Skills Using BEI

    Behaviour event interview skills training is an investment that will help your leaders/managers consistently hire people who meet your job requirements and fit the corporate culture and values of your organization.

Testimonials

What my clients say

  • I hired Bruce Mayhew to facilitate a corporate training program for our district sales managers and senior team members. 

    The one-day training addressed: multigenerational training to help us understand and therefore adapt management styles according to age group, and Behavioural Event Interviewing (BEI), to help us find and hire the right people when interviewing.

    Bruce provided enlightened corporate training that was appreciated by all. He was flexible with the timelines and encouraged conversation and questions throughout the training that deepened our understanding. We are applying methods learned during training and it gives us perspective on new hires. His after training cooperation was also greatly appreciated. 

    I have no hesitation in recommending Bruce's services to anyone.

    Isabelle Leclair
  • I hired Bruce to provide Email Communication Training to the staff at my client's company. It was a pleasure working with Bruce on this initiative. He was quick to respond, incredibly flexible with scheduling, and always considerate of our company’s needs. 

    Bruce went to great lengths to customize his training to our specific requirements. His focus throughout the project was on ensuring that our employees learned skills that could be easily and immediately transferred to their work. He did this in a way that was fun, engaging and thought-provoking. 

    Bruce’s Email Communication Training could not be more relevant to the workplace today and is a MUST for anyone who communicates via email. The pearls of wisdom that are passed on will stick with you every time you send and receive an email. 

    Bruce, thank you for your patience and guidance. I look forward to collaborating with you in future!

    Wendy Glaser
  • Bruce was one of three speakers we invited to present at a conference with 800 plus attendees. Bruce presented two different seminars – one on difficult conversations, and one on time management.

    Bruce’s presentations were fun, informative, and he engaged the audience with relevant questions and practical examples. I'm happy to say we immediately began receiving great feedback from conference participants, clearly marking Bruce as a great addition to our speaker lineup. Bruce was very open to working with our team to create and deliver content that we knew our participants were searching for. 

    As a manager, I found that the day following his difficult conversations seminar, I was able to recall and successfully use some of the techniques he spoke of. 

    I would recommend Bruce for future speaking and training opportunities.

    April Moon
  • Bruce is an outstanding facilitator and people-connector. 

    IABC London worked with Bruce on a Professional Development event titled "The Changing Landscape of Work Environments." From my first communication with him, Bruce was quite simply easy to work with and professional - organized, thorough and prompt to reply. 

    On the day of our event he arrived early and formed a warm rapport with the speaker panel and those in the audience. He moderated our panel in a helpful and informative way that was respective of the audience's learning. I enjoyed the event immensely, and that is due to Bruce's leadership in bringing the panel of speakers together and bringing out their best insights.

    Thank you Bruce for your contribution to IABC London.

    Andrew Kaszowski
  • With just a week’s notice before our workshop, we urgently needed a speaker skilled in navigating difficult conversations. Despite attempts to find someone internally, we had to turn to an external expert. Luckily, Bruce was available on short notice, and we quickly collaborated to tailor the content specifically for our group.

    Bruce led a focused workshop on managing difficult conversations and managing competing expectations among stakeholders. He engaged directly with our Digital Transformation and Operations Team, who frequently face complex situations.

    Bruce demonstrated a deep understanding of our team’s needs by blending practical training with relevant theory. We also worked through five real-world scenarios that addressed diverse challenges, enabling participants to immediately apply the workshop’s insights to their daily work.

    It was a pleasure to work with Bruce and to have him speak to our team. His flexibility and expertise were greatly appreciated. I highly recommend him!

    Ariana Krista
  • When Bruce delivered the effective business email writing course to my management group I received fantastic feedback from the managers on how the workshop was immediately applicable, full of useful strategies and very engaging.

    Bruce has the ability to think on his feet, communicate with multiple audiences and keep the project goals in focus. He is a great team player and I look forward to continued work with him on future projects.