Say the Hard Thing: A Practical Approach to Difficult Leadership Conversations
Wed, Sep 23
|Webinar
Time & Location
Sep 23, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM EDT
Webinar
About the Event
Program Description
Most leaders know when a conversation needs to happen. The harder part is getting clear about what really needs to be said, and then actually saying it. In this practical session, we’ll explore why leaders avoid or soften difficult conversations, how to recognize when a more direct conversation is needed, and how to prepare before stepping into it. Through a simple approach, real-world examples, and sample dialogue, participants will consider how to communicate clearly, listen without losing the point of the conversation, and respond when things get uncomfortable. Participants will leave better prepared to recognize the conversations they need to have, get clear about what needs to be said, and approach those conversations more intentionally.
About the speaker
Kellie Burns is the founder of at the TOP, a confidential thought-partnership practice for CEOs and senior leaders navigating complex decisions and high-stakes conversations. Her work is grounded in structural neutrality: no connection to the leader’s organization, no agenda, and no stake in the outcome, creating space for the conversations and thinking that can be difficult to have elsewhere. Kellie has served as a confidential resource to more than 60 senior leaders globally, often providing the space to think through what needed to be said before a difficult conversation took place.
JOIN US FOR THIS FREE WEBINAR
Date: Wednesday, September 23
Time: 12:00 - 1:00 pm EDT
Location: On-line, via Zoom
Cost: Free to GRQC members and non-members
Registration: Click below to register.
Can’t make it live but interested in the content? Register anyway: all registered attendees get a link to the recording after the session!
If you require ASL interpretation, please let us know by September 14.
Please direct questions to events@grqc.org.
Greater Rochester Quality Council events, programs and initiatives are supported in part by the Greater Rochester Chamber Foundation.