How to have Difficult Conversations with Franchisees that Avoid Mediation and Legal Disputes...
"Maintain and Grow your Positive Franchise Partnerships with the Skills to Avoid Issues Escalating out of Control."
High-Stakes Communication Expert and Bestselling Franchise Author
Overview
What if a franchisee is underperforming, but shuts down when you raise it? Or disputes your brand guidelines? Or threatens legal action because they feel unheard?
These high-stakes conversations can derail relationships and damage your network—unless your head office team knows how to handle them.
This practical half-day workshop gives franchise support staff the tools to manage difficult conversations in a way that protects relationships, preserves brand standards, and boosts performance.
They'll Learn how to
- Raise tough issues without triggering defensiveness
- Keep control when emotions run high
- Get a clear message across and remembered
- Find common ground when trust has broken down
- End conversations with clarity and next steps
- Read body language to know when to slow down or move forward
Other Workshop Details (Can also be a conference presentation)
The workshop includes expert input, live demonstrations, and exercises based on real-world franchise situations—so your team gets to practise, not just listen.Whether they're in franchise support, operations, development or compliance, this workshop will give them tools they can use the very next day. The workshop was developed after two clients asked Pete Burdon (See below) to develop it from his media training workshops. They could see how an adapted media training workshop could be of immense value to anyone dealing with difficult staff or clients. The workshop incorporates relevant parts of Pete's media training workshops focused on scenarios when the stakes are high, along with others exclusively for difficult conversations. It is highly practical and interactive with small group exercises, but there are no compulsory one-on-one videotaped practice conversations with the trainer .
WHERE: Anywhere across New Zealand
DATE: At a time convenient to you
TIME: Full-Day, Half-Day, Conference Presentations.
INVESTMENT: Depends on which option and location.
ABOUT PETE
Pete is a leading trainer in mastering high-stakes communication. He has been a member of the Franchise Association for 8 years and has worked with many members.
With Masters Degrees in Journalism and Communication Management, and a background as a journalist and government press secretary, Pete originally specialised exclusively in media interview training.
With Masters Degrees in Journalism and Communication Management, and a background as a journalist and government press secretary, Pete originally specialised exclusively in media interview training.
After consistent feedback from clients about how those skills helped them in tough conversations at work, he developed his Mastering Difficult Conversations at Work training.
Pete blends practical conflict resolution tools with insights from high-stakes media communication, helping professionals stay calm, read body language, and build trust under pressure. His methods are immediately useful, easy to apply, and built for results.
WHAT OTHERS SAY...
Pete's workshop has been invaluable for our pastoral team, equipping them with essential skills to handle challenging conversations with parents. His focus on body language and de-escalation techniques has provided practical strategies that foster calm, constructive communication. Thanks to Pete’s guidance, our team feels more confident and prepared to navigate even the most sensitive discussions.
NIGEL VERNON, ASSIATANT PRINCIPAL - PASTORAL CARE, CHRISTCHURCH BOYS' HIGH SCHOOL
Pete facilitated a session for leaders within our Electricity and Renewables division on high stakes conversations. The methodologies he provided were simple but for many participants who kept hitting default behaviours it became obvious where their weaknesses were and how; without following the suggested methodology, quickly things can escalate, get out of control and become aggressive. I would highly recommend this course for anyone that has to serve customers, work with tough employee’s, unreasonable managers, sulky suppliers. Try not to compromise on the time. It is the practice that gets you conditioned. I saw all our participants get better each time they practiced. Since the training every single participant has spoken to at least 3 people about it. Thanks Pete, invaluable.
ANDREE JAMES, NATIONAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, VENTIA
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