Details

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People Management Series: Managing Difficult Conversations & Workplace Misconduct

Duration: 2 Days

Introduction

Managing people requires leaders and HR professionals to handle challenging workplace situations with confidence, fairness, and professionalism. Whether addressing performance issues, behavioural concerns, conflicts, employee grievances, or misconduct cases, the ability to communicate effectively and manage the process correctly is essential to maintaining a positive and compliant workplace environment.

This 2 days’ workshop is designed to equip Division Heads, People Managers, and junior HR professionals with practical skills to conduct difficult conversations and manage workplace misconduct effectively. Participants will learn communication techniques, employee coaching approaches, documentation practices, investigation fundamentals, and proper disciplinary handling through interactive discussions, case studies, and role-play simulations.

The programme focuses on real workplace scenarios to help participants apply structured approaches when dealing with sensitive employee matters while balancing empathy, business needs, and compliance requirements.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, the participants will be able to:

• Understand the role of leaders and HR in managing employee issues professionally
• Conduct difficult conversations using structured communication approaches
• Handle emotional responses, resistance, and workplace conflicts effectively
• Identify different types of workplace misconduct and appropriate actions required
• Apply proper investigation processes, documentation, and disciplinary procedures
• Make fair and consistent decisions when handling employee-related cases.

Key Content

Module 1 – Understanding Workplace Difficult Conversations

Explore common workplace conversations including performance concerns, attitude issues, conflict situations, feedback discussions, and sensitive employee matters. Understand why leaders avoid difficult conversations and the impact of delaying action.

Module 2 – Preparing & Structuring Effective Conversations

Learn a structured approach to prepare, start, conduct, and close difficult conversations. Focus on setting objectives, asking effective questions, active listening, and creating clear agreements. Generating multimedia assets from NotebookLM, including audio and video overviews to support training, product briefings, and marketing content

Module 3 – Managing Employee Responses & Emotional Situations

Learn techniques to handle disagreement, defensiveness, excuses, emotional reactions, and resistance while maintaining professionalism and respect.

Module 4 – Difficult Conversation Simulation

Participants practise real workplace scenarios such as performance issues, behavioural concerns, conflict management, and feedback conversations with facilitator coaching.

Module 5 – Understanding Workplace Misconduct

Introduction to misconduct, types of misconduct, common workplace examples, and the impact of ignoring employee issues.

Module 6 – Role of Managers & HR in Handling Misconduct

Understanding responsibility between people managers and HR, when to coach, when to escalate, and common mistakes to avoid.

Module 7 – Managing Misconduct Cases Effectively

Learn the proper approach in handling misconduct cases including fact finding, documentation, evidence collection, and employee communication.

Module 8 – Introduction to Domestic Inquiry (DI)

Understanding the purpose of DI, when DI is required, principles of natural justice, DI process flow, and key roles involved.

Module 9 – Workplace Misconduct Case Simulation

Participants review workplace scenarios, identify issues, determine appropriate actions, and practise decision making.

Target Audience

This programme is designed for Division Heads, Department Heads, People Managers, Supervisors, Team Leaders, and HR professionals who are responsible for managing employee performance, behavior, conflicts, grievances, and workplace misconduct. It is particularly suitable for managers and HR practitioners who want to strengthen their confidence and skills in conducting difficult conversations, handling employee issues, and managing misconduct cases fairly and professionally.

Methodology

This workshop adopts a practical and scenario-based learning approach to maximise participant engagement and workplace application.

Methodologies Used

• Interactive Lectures
• Facilitated Group Discussions
• Workplace Case Studies
• Role Plays & Simulation Exercises
• Difficult Conversation Practice
• Misconduct Investigation Activities
• Group Problem Solving
• Facilitator Coaching & Feedback

Participants will work through realistic employee management situations, practise conversations, analyse misconduct cases, and receive feedback to strengthen their confidence in handling workplace challenges.