The communication skills every workplace needs

Grounded in 30 years of social science, this evidence-based training equips people with a proven framework, shared skills and language to speak up early, communicate with confidence, and strengthen safety, trust, and interpersonal relationships.

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Crucial Conversations gets to the heart of what's really holding people back and gives practical solutions they can use straight away to make an impact and perform. I can't recommend it enough.

Learning Experience Business Partner
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The Standard in Effective Communication

Master the art of effective dialogue in high-stakes situations with globally proven communication training. Learn evidence-based techniques to navigate challenging conversations, improve workplace and personal relationships, and drive better outcomes across your organisation with respect and in psychological safety.

The conversations that shape leadership, culture, and performance

Speak up when it matters most
Develop a shared skillset and language to level up your people to address crucial moments with respect, safety and confidence. 
Reduce psychosocial risks through dialogue
A proactive measure to help your people surface risks early before harm occurs.
Equip leaders with confidence for difficult conversations
A proven framework and shared skills give leaders the confidence to address feedback, performance, and difficult issues clearly, calmly, and constructively.
Build real psychological safety
Psychological safety isn’t optional. Establish a shared approach for speaking openly, challenging ideas, and preserving trust across the organisation.

What you will learn

Participants develop practical communication skills they can apply immediately to:
Address issues that keep work, relationships, or results stuck.
 Understand what drives them and choose more productive interpretations.
Start with what you really want and maintain respect under pressure.
Communicate honestly in ways that reduce defensiveness and invite dialogue.
Respond effectively when conversations turn tense or unsafe.
Build shared understanding and move toward clear decisions and results.

Learning formats

Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue is delivered as a two-day, instructor-led experience. The content is the same, the difference is how and where you learn the skills.
In-house Training

Best for: Teams or organisations wanting to build communication capability, a shared language, and the ability to embed Crucial Conversations® skills at scale.

How it works:

  • Delivered onsite in-person or live virtually
  • 2 day training (can be non-concurrent days)
  • Tailored to your organisation’s context and real workplace scenarios
  • Suitable for intact teams or cohorts across the organisation
  • Facilitated by a Crucial Dimensions Trainer, or
  • Option to train your own internal trainer to deliver the program ongoing
Public Course

Best for: Individuals or small groups who want to build practical communication skills without organising an in-house program, or organisations looking to assess the training before a wider rollout.

How it works:

  • Live, facilitator-led virtual sessions
  • 2 day training
  • Delivered by a Crucial Dimensions Trainer
  • Open enrolment with participants from different organisations
  • Ideal for sending one or a small number of staff

Become a Certified Trainer for your organisation

Our train the trainer certification option provides a scalable, contextual and cost effective approach to embed Crucial Conversations capability across your organisation.

Join an upcoming public course

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Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue
May
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Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue Training
May 12
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May 13
$1190
Virtual
Prerequisite: you must have completed the full training course prior to Trainer Certification
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Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue
May
Trainer Certification
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Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue Trainer Certification
May 19
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May 20
$9995
Virtual
Prerequisite: you must have completed the full training course prior to Trainer Certification
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Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue
August
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Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue Training
Aug 18
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Aug 19
$1190
Virtual
Prerequisite: you must have completed the full training course prior to Trainer Certification
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Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue
August
Trainer Certification
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Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue Trainer Certification
Aug 25
 - 
Aug 26
$9995
Virtual
Prerequisite: you must have completed the full training course prior to Trainer Certification
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Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue
October
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Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue Training
Oct 20
 - 
Oct 21
$1190
Virtual
Prerequisite: you must have completed the full training course prior to Trainer Certification
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Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue
October
Trainer Certification
Book now
Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue Trainer Certification
Oct 27
 - 
Oct 28
$9995
Virtual
Prerequisite: you must have completed the full training course prior to Trainer Certification
Book now
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Course resources

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Course Agenda

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Course Overview

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First Chapter of Book

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Course Agenda

Participants are guided through an evidence-based and practical framework that can be applied immediately. This creates a common language and skillset for speaking up safely, communicating with confidence and resolving issues constructively.

2 Days
01

Get Unstuck

  • Spot the conversations that are keeping you from what you want.

  • Choose the right conversation to get unstuck.

02

Master My Stories I

  • Learn where emotions come from and how to change them.

  • Take responsibility for the emotions you bring to the conversation by owning your story.

03

Master My Stories II

  • Eliminate negative stories that impede conversations and results.

04

Start With Heart

  • Stay focused on what you really want.

  • Lay a foundation of good intent.

05

State My Path

  • Speak honestly and respectfully.

  • Share tough messages in a way that invites others into the conversation.

06

Make it Safe

  • Take steps to rebuild safety when others get defensive.

  • Talk with almost anyone about almost anything.

07

Learn to Look

  • Notice the signs that people are not in dialogue.

  • Identify and manage your own Style Under Stress.

08

Seek Mutual Purpose

  • Recognise when you’re at odds in a conversation.

  • Find common ground even when it seems impossible.

09

Explore Others' Paths

  • Actively listen to understand the meaning behind others’ emotions and actions.

  • Respond productively when someone initiates a Crucial Conversation with you.

10

Move to Action

  • Move from healthy dialogue to taking action and achieving results.

Let’s talk about what would work best for your organisation

A short conversation helps us understand your context and recommend the right delivery approach for your people.

Book a call with Josh

Tackling your organisational challenges head on

Transform workplace tensions into opportunities for growth and collaboration.

The Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue communication course equips your team with proven strategies to address disagreements constructively, turning potential crucial moments into chances for mutual understanding and innovative problem-solving.

  • Reduce workplace tension and improve team cohesion
  • Increase productivity through faster conflict resolution
  • Enhance employee satisfaction and retention rates

Tackling workplace psychosocial hazards head-on.

In today's fast-paced Australian and New Zealand workplaces, psycho-social hazards pose significant risks to employee wellbeing and organisational performance. The Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue communication course equips your team with the skills to address these challenges effectively, fostering a healthier work environment.

  • Identify and discuss psycho-social risks openly, promoting early intervention
  • Navigate difficult conversations about mental health and workplace stress with confidence
  • Create a supportive culture where all team members feel heard and valued

Bridge generational gaps to create harmonious, high-performing teams.

With up to five generations currently working in Australian and New Zealand workplaces, effective communication across age groups is crucial. Crucial Conversations Communication Training provides tools to leverage diverse perspectives, fostering an environment where all team members, regardless of age, feel valued and understood.

  • Improve knowledge transfer between generations
  • Reduce workplace conflicts stemming from generational differences
  • Enhance innovation through diverse viewpoints

Create a culture where breakthrough ideas thrive.

In today's competitive Australasian market, innovation is key to success. Our communication training course teaches techniques to foster an environment where team members feel safe to share novel ideas, challenge the status quo, and collaboratively develop groundbreaking solutions.

  • Increase flow of creative ideas within the organisation
  • Improve problem-solving capabilities
  • Enhance competitive edge in the Australian and New Zealand market

Build a supportive workplace where wellbeing conversations are the norm.

With growing awareness of mental health issues in Australian and New Zealand workplaces, many organisations struggle to address these sensitive topics effectively. Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue communication training provides tools to create psychologically safe spaces, enabling open dialogues about wellbeing and support.

  • Create a more supportive work environment
  • Reduce stigma around mental health discussions
  • Improve employee wellbeing and job satisfaction

Learning that changes behaviours

Get unstuck

Identify problems contributing to poor results and struggling relationships.

Master my stories

Keep composure when feeling angry or defensive and identify what stories you may be telling yourself.

Start with heart

Be clear with yourself and others about what you really want.

State my path

Share strong opinions without shutting down others’ viewpoints.

Make it safe

Create safety so you can talk with almost anyone about almost anything.

Learn to look

Spot the warning signs that indicate safety and dialogue are at risk.

Seek mutual purpose

Find common ground even when it seems impossible.

Explore others' paths

Listen and respond effectively to other people’s concerns and feedback.

Move to action

Turn each Crucial Conversation into a course of action that leads to better outcomes.

Learn the way you want to

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Public course

Join one of our regular public courses, hosted by expert trainers in an easy to digest format.

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In-house training

Our expert team creates a custom plan for your organisation's specific needs.

Frequently asked questions

What is a Crucial Conversation?

A discussion where the stakes are high, there’s opposing opinions and emotions are strong. These are the moments that often get avoided or handled poorly without a structured approach.

How long is the training program?

It’s a two-day course, available in-person or virtually.

Can the program be run on non-consecutive days?

Yes it can and works very effectively. Our best practice approach is no more than 2-3 weeks between the 1st and second day.

Do you offer it as a 1 day program?

No we don’t. Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue is intentionally designed as a two-day program, and research shows that reducing it to one day significantly decreases learning impact and long-term behaviour change.

Who should attend?

The training is relevant for staff at all levels, including senior leaders, emerging leaders, and early-career employees. It is designed to create consistent, sustainable behaviour change across the organisation.

From senior leaders to all staff, this training is about changing the behaviours holding people and the organisation back.

Is this suitable for frontline leaders?

Absolutely. Frontline leaders often face the toughest conversations and gain the most from a clear, practical approach they can use straight away with their teams.

How does this support psychosocial obligations?

Early, honest conversations help teams talk through pressure points, role clarity, workload and behaviours before issues escalate. It’s a practical, proactive step that organisations can take to mitigate risk.

Who is certification for?

This is typically for LnD, OD and HR leaders that have facilitation experience, capability and capacity to deliver the training programs internally. Our certification training uses instructional design and the Crucial Learning VIP platform.

Do I need to complete the two-day program before certification?

Yes. Certification can only be completed after attending the full two-day course.

How long is certification?

Certification is a separate two-day program, facilitated either virtually (public program) or in-person with an organisation where there’s more than 3 people being certified at a time.