INFLUENCE UNDER PRESSURE
Handle difficult conversations before they damage trust, performance and relationships.
A practical 10-week course for leaders who want to address conflict calmly, reduce defensiveness and turn tense conversations into clear agreements - without avoiding the issue or making it worse.
Does this sound familiar?
You know a conversation needs to happen, but you keep delaying it.
Emotion or defensiveness takes over before the real issue is addressed.
The conversation ends politely, but nothing actually changes.
Unresolved conflict is beginning to affect trust, performance or retention.
This course gives you the tools to:
Stay calm and grounded when conflict becomes difficult or emotional.
Prepare for difficult conversations instead of walking in and hoping for the best.
Ask better questions that reduce defensiveness and uncover what is really going on.
Recognize assumptions, triggers, and emotions before they derail the conversation.
Move people beyond fixed positions toward practical solutions and clear agreements.
Build a culture where conflict is addressed early, directly, and productively.
Course Content
Week 1 — Why Conflict Feels So Hard
Understanding What Actually Happens in Conflict
The course begins by exploring why intelligent, capable leaders sometimes avoid, delay, or mishandle conversations they know they need to have.
Week 2 — The Leader's First Job in Conflict
Emotional Regulation Before Communication
Leaders learn to recognize their triggers, understand their reactions, and create space between what happens and how they respond.
Week 3 — Understanding the Other Person
Seeing Behavior Through a Wider Lens
Leaders challenge assumptions and explore what may be underneath another person's behavior, including fear, identity, reputation, and the interests they may be trying to protect.
Week 4 — The Questions That Change Conversations
Learning to Lead With Curiosity
A good question can completely change a conversation. This week focuses on using curiosity to uncover information instead of entering the conversation convinced the answer is already known.
Week 5 — Preparing for a Difficult Conversation
Thinking Before Speaking
Important conversations shouldn't be improvised. Leaders learn how to identify the real issue, understand what matters, and become clear about what they want from the conversation.
Week 6 — Opening the Conversation the Right Way
How the First Few Minutes Shape Everything
Tone matters. Language matters. The way a conversation begins matters. Leaders learn how to open difficult conversations without immediately increasing defensiveness.
Week 7 — When Emotions Show Up
Handling Anger, Defensiveness, and Silence
Anger, frustration, defensiveness, and silence are part of difficult conversations. Leaders learn what to do when emotion enters the room—and why slowing down can sometimes be more effective than pushing for an immediate answer.
Week 8 — Moving Toward Solutions
From Positions to Progress
People often become stuck defending positions. Leaders learn how to get underneath those positions, understand the interests involved, and identify options that allow people to move forward.
Week 9 — Agreements That Actually Stick
Turning Conversation Into Commitment
Feeling better at the end of a conversation isn't the same as resolving the issue. This week focuses on clarity, expectations, accountability, and follow-through.
Week 10 — Building a Culture That Handles Conflict Well
Leadership Beyond One Conversation
The course concludes by moving beyond individual conversations. Leaders examine the environment they're creating and how their own behavior teaches the team what productive disagreement looks like.
What will you receive?
A comprehensive digital course that includes:
10 focused video lessons — one practical lesson each week.
10 weeks of conflict leadership training designed to build skills step by step.
Practical tools and strategies that can be applied to real difficult conversations.
Reflection questions and exercises to turn each lesson into action.
Also begin receiving twice weekly leadership writings emailed directly from Karl, a highly successful executive coach with 34 years of coaching and business leadership experience.
What is your financial investment?
Two pricing options for for different levels of support:
Independent Study Level
$249.00
✔️ Receive lifetime access to the course with downloadable materials and comprehensive guides emailed directly to your inbox for convenience.
✔️ This high quality content effectively leads you through the unique exercises to thoroughly understand concepts and take actions in order to experience meaningful transformation.
Exclusive Live Coaching Support Package
$549.00
Limited availability (20 packages offered monthly) so act fast
✔️ This package includes everything in the above + one-hour virtual coaching session with course creator Karl Pister.
✔️ This enhanced live support session gives you access to Karl’s 34 years of proven counseling and coaching success for people at all levels.
✔️ Optimal for high-performing executives who, like yourself, are investing in your top asset – yourself.
✔️ Deepen your understanding and apply the course material with greater confidence and. Limited to 20 coaching packages each month to ensure every participant receives focused, personal support.
Choose your investment
$249.00
Unlimited course access
$549.00
with one-hour coaching session
What others are saying
"He helped us analyze where we stand."
“My team benefitted greatly from meeting with Karl and listening to his prompts that helped us analyze where we stand. Karl has an easygoing, nice style that put people at ease, even when discussing touchy subjects.”
- Emergency Room Physician
"Motivating clients through change."
“[Karl] articulates issues in ways clients can appreciate without feeling threatened, and his skill in motivating clients through change is unmatched.”
- Organization Director
"He has the experience and mentoring skills that result in positive outcomes.”
“We’ve had great success with bringing Karl Pister in to deal with complex relationship issues with members of leadership. Karl has demonstrated that he has the experience and mentoring skills that result in positive outcomes.”
- Corporate Human Resources Director
Meet Your Instructor
Your Guide to Excellence
Karl Pister
Founder, The Coaching Group Inc.
Karl Pister is the founder and president of The Coaching Group, Inc. Karl has extensive experience in coaching, training, and individual and marital counseling, having worked in these fields for over 34 years. He has focused the majority of his coaching since 2008 on the healthcare sector, specializing in work with physicians, nurses, and healthcare executives with hospitals and clinics nationally. He is certified by the International Coach Federation and the John Maxwell Team.
