How to Handle the Emotional Side of Leading Consultation Conversations

When it comes time to tell your team about restructures and redundancies HR will give you a script to deliver the facts—but not the tools to manage emotions.

This workshop gives you practical, empathetic strategies to lead consultation conversations with courage, clarity and care.

Workshop Details:

Date: Thursday 1st May
Time: 12:30–13:30 (UK time)
Where: Online (Teams link provided after registration)
Replay available if you can’t attend live

Who this is for: 

• You’re managing consultations or restructures in Higher Education

• You want practical tools, not just theory

• You care about leading with courage and empathy

What you’ll learn:

✅ How to prepare for the human aspect of the conversation, not just the legal and procedural aspects
✅ How to respond when emotions run high and you don't have all the answers
✅ How to protect your own wellbeing while leading others

Why this matters:

To prepare you to lead Consultation Conversations your HR team will most likely give you a script which covers the exact words you need to say in order to deliver the information that you team member's role is at risk of significant change or redundancy. But that's likely to be where their support ends. Very little help is given with the human side of consultation conversations.

This workshop will give you practical, empathetic strategies you can use to prepare for the conversation, manage your own nerves, stay calm in the event that the other person becomes emotional and ultimately lead these conversations with dignity and respect, for you and your team members.

In times of uncertainty, the conversations you lead shape trust, loyalty, and ultimately your team culture. None of this is easy but you can have a significant influence on how your team members experience this by bringing your calm presence and composure to these conversations. 

About Your Host:

Fiona Bicket | Coaching Higher Education Professionals

With over 17 years' experience in Higher Education management and coaching, I specialise in helping managers build the confidence and skills to lead even the hardest conversations with courage and care.
Through 1:1 coaching, group programmes, and practical workshops, I help people find that grounded calm place inside themselves and to manage and lead from there.

I really hope you'll join this workshop. It could make all the difference to how you show up to these conversations.