Workplace Communication and Difficult
Conversations Training
Equip Teams And Leaders To Communicate Effectively, Give Constructive Feedback And Handle Difficult Workplace Conversations With Confidence.
Practical difficult conversations and communications training for managers, corporate and leadership teams, NGOs, government departments and organisations UK wide to help you handle difficult conversations at work, give feedback the right way, improve communications, navigate conflict, and reduce staff sick leave and turnover.
Meet your trainer, Nikki
As seen (and heard!) in The Guardian and on Radio New Zealand.
Who I’ve worked with
The Hidden Cost of Poor Communication, Unhelpful Feedback and Avoiding Tough Conversations
Right now, across the UK, millions of workplace conversations aren’t happening because people aren’t communicating proactively and effectively.
Problems are going unspoken, feedback isn’t being delivered, and tension is growing beneath the surface - all because people don’t feel confident enough to say what needs to be said. The hidden cost of that is catastrophic:
1 in 4 UK employees experienced workplace conflict in the past year (CIPD, 2024)
Conflict costs UK organisations £28.5 billion annually (Acas)
964,000 workers experienced work-related stress, depression or anxiety last year, contributing to 22.1 million lost working days (HSE).
Behind all these numbers are conversations that never happened - or went wrong…
The performance meeting that was avoided.
The feedback no one gave.
The lack of confidence because of a gap in skills.
The absenteeism caused by unresolved issues.
The talented employee who ended up leaving.
The culture of stress and burnout that no one’s addressing.
Most people were never taught how to handle these moments well. The good news? Having difficult conversations is a skill anyone can learn. Let me show you how.
After our difficult conversations and effective communications training, your team will:
Understand why they avoid difficult conversations
Know how to overcome their pre-conversation anxiety
Be able to communicate proactively before issues escalate
Have learned frameworks and tools for de-escalating conflict
Know how to give constructive feedback without damaging relationships
Be able to stay calm and grounded in emotionally charged conversation
Understand how to set boundaries clearly and professionally
Know how to listen in a way that reduces defensiveness.
Who’s This Training For?
This difficult conversations training is for managers and team leaders, leadership teams, HR professionals, corporate teams and organisations that want to improve their communications culture. This training is especially valuable for managers responsible for handling difficult conversations at work.
What Will You Take Away From My Difficult Conversations Workshop?
And as an organisation, you’ll see reduced conflict-related costs, lower staff absence, happier people and a stronger internal communications culture.
How It Works
I spend time getting my difficult conversations training right for every team in every organisation, and I have options available to suit your budget. Choose from:
Workshops from an hour-long ‘Lunch and Learn’ to a full day.
Sessions tailored to teams, from leaders to new starters.
Training delivered virtually, or in person anywhere in the UK.
Follow up coaching for individuals or small groups
My difficult conversations workshops are practical and interactive, with activities to get involved in right from the start (no death by PowerPoint!). So your team won’t just understand the ideas; they’ll know how to go and use them, straight away.
About Your Trainer
Hi, I’m Nikki Allen.
I’m a trainer, qualified BACP-registered therapist and published author. For 15 years, I’ve run workshops for organisations like the UNEP-WCMC, the Department for Science and Innovation, Bauer Media, Savills, Dulwich College and as Head of Training for global language consultancy The Writer.
My thoughts on healthy communication and boundary setting have been recognised nationally and internationally, including features in The Guardian and Radio New Zealand.
But my understanding of difficult conversations doesn’t come only from my professional credentials. In my personal life, as a parent advocating for two children with additional needs in an under-funded and under-resourced schooling system, difficult conversations are a constant. On a daily basis, I’m having difficult conversations where the stakes are sky-high and avoidance isn’t an option.
So I’ve learned the hard way how much courage these conversations take. And I know the difference it makes when someone has the confidence and tools to navigate them well.
Your Questions, Answered
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Leaders, managers and teams who want to improve communication, reduce conflict and build better working relationships.
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Yes, absolutely. Often, I cover this as part of my wider communications/difficult conversations workshop, but I can also run a dedicated session for your team solely on giving constructive feedback.
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Yes. I can customise every workshop to your organisation’s needs. But if you’d like to discuss a lower cost, non-tailored option, we can do that too.
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Yes, very. I believe people learn best by doing, and trying things out. Participants practise these skills in a safe, supportive environment, and they’ll have an interactive toolkit to take away afterwards.
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Yes. Both virtual and in-person sessions are available. Though I’d always encourage an in-person session for this particular topic, as it means I can offer people more individual feedback.
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For an in-person workshop, I can run the session for anything up to 12 people. Online, we can go up to 20.
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My rates start from £595.00 for a 60-minute virtual workshop.
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It depends on my availability, but I’m usually able to fit new projects in within 2-4 weeks.
Ready to find out more?
You can book straight into my calendar by clicking above.
I’ll get back to you in 48 hours or less.
What People Say About My Workshops
“Superb. Nikki is really engaging and enthusiastic. It was the most enjoyable training session I have ever been on!”
— Bauer Media workshop attendee“Nikki creates bespoke and highly engaging training sessions for us as an organisation. The feedback from our employees is always brilliant.”
— People team, UNEP-WCMC“I don’t think I realised before this workshop how much I was carrying, and Nikki navigated the conversation with such grace.”
— DSIT workshop attendeeNot quite ready yet?
No problem - take your time.
While you think about it, go ahead and grab my free guide: 5 Big Mistakes People Make in Difficult Conversations (And How to Fix Them).
