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How to Have Difficult Conversations: Beginner's Guide (Udemy.com)

Become more confident having conversations about difficult topics. Learn communication skills and successful mindsets.

4.6
20,648 reviews

Created by: Markus Amanto

Last updated March 2026

Our take

Based on the ratings of 20,648 students, a sample of their written reviews and the syllabus, as the course stood in March 2026. No course pays to be reviewed.

This is a short course for managers and team leads who dread tough talks at work. It runs about 68 minutes across 45 brief lectures, with sections on preparation, seven questions to ask yourself, mindset, and a walkthrough of the conversation itself. Markus Amanto, a Swedish leadership trainer, teaches it. The description promises a plan for a real conversation plus downloadable material, and quizzes close the major sections. It was last updated in March 2026.

Reviewers mostly like how plainly it is laid out. Many call it clear, easy to follow and practical, and one says the short segments let them fit a lesson in between other work. Another says it helped them calm down before approaching a hard topic. Roughly 87 percent of the 20,648 ratings are four or five stars. The complaints are small but fair. One reviewer found Amanto so slow they needed 1.25x speed, another wanted facts over feelings, and a 2 star review called it nothing new.

At just over an hour, it costs little time and works more as a refresher than a deep training. One reviewer found nothing new in it, and the course says it is not for people with long experience who want legal and cultural aspects of these talks. Recommended for first-time leaders, or anyone who wants a calm checklist before one specific talk.

Best forNew or unsure managers who want a short, structured way to plan one tough talk, with mindset work and opening lines.
Skip it ifYou have held many hard talks already and want legal or cultural depth, or ideas beyond the basics.

Pros

  • Short lectures across 8 sections, easy to squeeze in around other work
  • Reviewers call it clear and practical, with examples they can apply at work
  • Covers preparation, mindset, and phrases for opening and closing the talk
  • Reviewers say it helped them feel calmer before a hard conversation

Cons

  • The instructor speaks slowly, one reviewer needed 1.25x speed to sound normal
  • One reviewer called it nothing new, so it may feel like a repeat for experienced hands
  • Not aimed at experienced people wanting the legal and cultural side of tough talks
I love how everything is broken down and explained. There are a lot of great ideas and suggestions.
Chelita Mendoza, a student

Suits first-time or unsure managers and non-managers alike. No prerequisites, but not aimed at veterans wanting legal or cultural depth.

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What you will learn

  • Feel more confident holding conversations about challenging topics
  • Improve your way of relating during talks
  • Increase skill set for holding these talks

Course content

8 sections · 45 lectures · 1.1 hours of video 5 quizzes, 5 articles

  1. 1Introduction to the Course 3 free previews3 lectures · 6 min
  2. 2Definition of Difficult Topics 3 free previews4 lectures · 1 quiz · 3 min
  3. 3Preparation 4 free previews5 lectures · 1 quiz · 5 min
  4. 4Seven Questions to Ask Yourself 3 free previews9 lectures · 1 quiz · 9 min
  5. 5Mindset 2 free previews11 lectures · 1 quiz · 29 min
  6. 6Let’s Do It! 1 free preview9 lectures · 1 quiz · 14 min
  7. 7Reviewing1 lecture · 1 min
  8. 8Course Wrap-Up3 lectures · 2 min

Who it is for

The instructor says it suits

  • This course is for managers and leaders on different levels in organisations
  • If you are feeling a bit unsure on how to approach and hold conversations about difficult topics then this course is for you
  • You do not need to have the formal position of a manager to get benefit from this course
  • If you have a long experience of holding these conversations and are looking for a course on legal and cultural aspects of talks, then this course is NOT for you

What you need before you start

  • No specific requirements are needed for this course

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Course Description

Learn the basic concepts, skills and mindsets for holding talks about difficult or tough topics. Many managers fear holding these talks, yet they are essential to your success as a leader. This course will take you step-by-step through a talk with practical examples and proven advice.

Learn to Master the Preparation, Planning and Performing of a Difficult Conversation With This Step-by-Step Course 

  • Learn to prepare yourself to avoid unnecessary emotional tension

  • Create a plan for the talk will make it easier to hold the talk and that sets you up for success

  • Become skilled at analyzing the situation so you can find the real problem and address it effectively

  • Learn to craft a crystal clear purpose for the talk and how stay on track even when the other person or you own emotions try to derail you

  • Get proven methods and actual phrases to start and end a talk in a good way

Build Your Confidence and Skill Set

A study by CPP Inc found that employees in the US spend approximately 2.8 hours per week dealing with workplace conflict. Psychometrics Canada found in their study that 32% of employees have to deal with conflict regularly. 

Handling difficult requires skill and empathy, but in the end it also about having the courage to go ahead and do it. In the course we will address all of those aspects so you can make a habit to face these issues head on in a good, effective way.

Content and Overview

Special attention has been made remove all the "fluff" from this course so it just filled with practical advice and examples. The course also helps you get started right away with carefully crafted assignments on how to have difficult conversations.

You will learn to prepare yourself before the talk to avoid unnecessary emotional tension that could otherwise create undesired outcomes. During the course you will also create a plan for an actual tough conversation that will make it easier to hold the talk and that sets you up for success.

You will also strengthen your skills when it comes to analyzing the situation so you can find the real problem, addressing it clearly and effectively. You will also learn how to craft a crystal clear purpose for the talk and how stay on track even when the other person or you own emotions try to derail you from reaching that purpose.

Throughout the course you will benefit from proven methods and actual phrases that you can to start and end a talk in a way that increases the chances of everyone involved walking away feel good about the talk.

All major sections of the course has a methodically structured quiz at the end to make sure you have grasped the important pointers from that sections. You will also walk away with downloadable material that you can use for future reference.
Read More All Levels All Levels product length iconTime: 1.1h

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Instructor Details

Markus Amanto

Markus Amanto is a well renowned author, speaker and trainer from Sweden. He has worked with improving leaders, teams and organizations in Asia, Europe and North America for over 30 years. 

His books include "The Leadership School - Who's Really in the Driver's Seat" and "The Basics of Group Dynamics" (currently available in Swedish only). 

He has held multiple positions as a manager. When he worked as a sales representative he built a sales team of over 400 people spanning the Nordic countries. 

He started his own consulting business in 1998 and has worked as a certified trainer for UGL-trainings for several years. He is also a certified user of SDI® (Strength Deployment Inventory). He is also trained in emotional debriefing, psychosynthesis and has also participated in Anthony Robbins Mastery University. 

Clients have included The University of Stockholm, Nasdaq, Kongsberg Automotive, Pitney Bowes, Tetra Pak, AstraZeneca, KPMG, ALMI and International Council of Swedish Industry (NIR).

Markus is fluent in Swedish, English, Finnish and Spanish. He is also able to communicate well in Danish and Norwegian. 

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Reviews

4.6

20,648 ratings on Udemy

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By Luz Dary Cante Castellanos on 9/23/2026

Me pareció un curso muy útil porque aprendí a manejar conversaciones difíciles con calma, respeto y empatía. Las herramientas presentadas me ayudarán a controlar mis emociones, escuchar mejor y buscar soluciones sin culpar ni atacar a la otra persona.

By Fernando Flores on 8/20/2026

This class would be highly beneficial for the team and would help all of us become better supervisors and better people. Overall, I would definitely recommend it to anyone, regardless of their role or area of life.

By Justin Fladry on 7/23/2026

1. Instructor talked very slowly, had to increase speed to 1.25X to sound normal. 2. I prefer to deal with facts and less feelings

By Yolanda Xaba on 7/9/2026

I am enjoying the course. Easy to follow. The short segments makes it possible for me to squeeze in a lesson here and there. Also helps me streamline my thoughts and confirm my understanding of. It has helped me calm down when approaching talks about challenging topics.

By Sylvia Brown on 6/15/2026

Yes. I am very big on communication with my employees and I really see the need to have more tools when preparing to launch into a conversation with a difficult topic.

By Iva Ninova on 4/25/2026

Thank you for very well structured and very useful course. I both enjoyed and found it practical. Took some notes and will definitely use it in my conversation on challenging topics!

By Steven St. Laurent on 4/3/2026

Course was very helpful, gave lots of good things to help me change and to think about when having a conversation with not just another employee but with other people as well.

By Angela Gonzales on 3/5/2026

Amazing! I need to watch it a few more times. So clear and concise! I learned so much here. It was so informative to understanding how to effectively speak about difficult topics. THANK YOU SO MUCH!

By Kamila Winterová on 3/1/2026

I am taking this course, not because I would be a manager. I am taking this course, because I want to learn how to deal with difficult people and how to communicate with them to get the proper result.

By Michael Gonzalez on 2/9/2026

the course was inserting; I learned a few things that will help how I can tuff conversations. Taking this course came at the right time as i have some conversations with workers coming up.

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Overall Score : 92 / 100

How to Have Difficult Conversations: Beginner's Guide
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  • Video Duration: icon 1.1h
  • Price: See price on Udemy
  • Provider: icon Udemy
  • Updated: icon March 2026
  • Level: All Levels All Levels
  • Language: icon English
  • Certificate: icon Yes
  • Lectures:45 in 8 sections
  • Practice:5 quizzes
  • Students:50,500
  • Subtitles:14 languages
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