What you will be able to do
- A way to see what is really at stake for each person
- A simple plan for opening a hard conversation well
- Ways to calm things down and recover from a misstep
- A clear close on what is agreed, open and next
What we cover
| Topic | What you do |
|---|---|
| What makes a conversation difficult | See the deeper stakes, history and power behind the tension. |
| Preparing for the conversation | Check your assumptions, their view and how you will open. |
| Staying in dialogue under pressure | Read signals, calm defensiveness and know when to pause. |
| Ending with clear outcomes | Agree what is settled, what is open and the next steps. |
Who it is for
Team members, team leads, managers and project staff at any level who must share bad news, raise concerns or address behaviour. Basic communication skills help.
How the course runs
- One session of 3 live hours
- In person or live online
How it counts toward an ICA professional certification
Difficult Conversations counts toward 3 professional certifications. An ICA professional certification is 1 core certification plus at least 2 of the specialized certifications listed for it, in any order. The same specialized certification can count toward more than one professional certification.
A suggested pathway
One way to earn the ICA Emotional Intelligence Professional Certification: the core certification plus two specialized certifications, including this one.
Emotional Intelligence
Difficult Conversations
EQ Across Culture and IdentityHow you earn your certification
- Attend every session in full and take an active part in every practice activity. Attendance is mandatory.
- Within 24 hours after class, Agile Visa registers the class and your details with ICA.
- ICA emails you to set up or open your ICA profile.
- Complete ICA's short post-class survey.
- ICA issues your verified Difficult Conversations certification badge.
Why learn with Agile Visa
Learn by doing
Short inputs, then real practice on one business case. You leave with work you can use.
Practitioner instructors
ICA authorized instructors who have done the work they teach.
Learn on your schedule
Live online across time zones, or a private class for your team.
Trusted worldwide
The largest, most trusted and most respected ICA accredited training provider globally.
Founded 2017. 75,000+ professionals across 140+ countries.
Register your interest
Tell us what you need and we will reply by email. You can also ask for a private class for your team, in person or live online.
Prefer WhatsApp? Message us on WhatsApp.
Frequently asked questions
What is the ICA Difficult Conversations certification?
Difficult Conversations (IC-DFCN) is a specialized certification from ICA, the International Certification Alliance (formerly ICAgile). Prepare for tough conversations, keep them calm and honest when emotions rise, and end with clear next steps.
How long is the Difficult Conversations course?
One session of 3 live hours, in person or live online.
Does Difficult Conversations count toward an ICA professional certification?
Yes. It counts toward the ICA Emotional Intelligence Professional Certification, ICA Communication Professional Certification and ICA Conflict Navigation Professional Certification. Each ICA professional certification is 1 core certification plus at least 2 specialized certifications, in any order.
How do I earn the Difficult Conversations certification?
Attend the whole session and take an active part in every practice activity. Within 24 hours, Agile Visa registers the class with ICA. ICA emails you to open your ICA profile, you complete ICA's short survey, and ICA issues your verified Difficult Conversations certification badge.
Can my team take Difficult Conversations together?
Yes. Ask for a private class for your team, in person or live online, and tell us how many people and where they are.
Interested in Difficult Conversations?
Register your interest and we will contact you about dates, or ask for a private class for your team, in person or live online.
Register your interest Ask for a private class WhatsApp us