That Difficult Conversation You've Been Avoiding?
It's not going away.
The Difficult Conversations Lab is an online course from TEAM Solutions that teaches you how to handle hard conversations at work, with an AI coach you can practice with.
How the AI Coach Responds When Someone Gets Defensive:
In this demo, the AI coach plays a defensive coworker and pushes back on feedback, so you can practice staying calm and getting your point across. You'll see how the coach reacts when the conversation gets tense and how to steer it back on track. This is the same practice you get inside the Difficult Conversations Lab. Try the AI coach for 7 days for $20.
No-Risk Guarantee. If the coach doesn't help, email us within 7 days for a full refund. No hoops, no explanation required.
Want the full system + certificate? Get the Complete Lab - $79 →
Or take all four
Each Lab stands alone. Together they cover the whole surface, and the Annual Pass opens every Lab and every coach for twelve months.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
★★★★★ "A standout feature of the course was the integrated AI practice tool, which allowed me to actively and realistically apply what I had learned. Difficult Conversations Lab deepened my understanding of how to approach unpleasant and tough conversations. I highly recommend this course to anyone looking to strengthen their communication skills."— Tonya S., Verified Buyer
★★★★★ "This was a very helpful and informational course. I liked how in depth it went into explaining the different things needed to get through a tough conversation. I would absolutely recommend this to my peers and colleagues."— Ethan M., Verified Buyer
WHAT THE COACH DOES
The AI Coach doesn't go easy on you.
It responds like the actual person you're dreading - defensive, evasive, emotional. You practice the conversation until you know exactly what to say. Then you walk in.
- Peer conflict - when it's gotten weird and you've both been avoiding it
- Managing up - when your boss is the problem
- Feedback - when someone needs to hear something hard
- Performance Reviews - when you need to advocate for yourself without sounding defensive.
What's Your Difficult Conversation Pattern?
This video shows how the coach adapts to you during practice.
- Learn your conversation partner's style and apply those insights before you start practicing.
- Describe your situation and the coach applies the right amount of pressure to help you build confidence and competence in that scenario.
- After each round, the coach gives you feedback and may suggest more practice or a specific lesson to revisit.
NOBODY TAUGHT YOU THIS
School didn't cover it. Your company's HR training was useless. And every time you've tried to wing it, you either:
- Froze when the moment came
- Softened your message until it meant nothing
- Avoided it entirely and watched things get worse
It doesn't go away. It festers. And it's costing you.
What You'll Learn in the Difficult Conversations Lab
The Difficult Conversations Lab is an online course from TEAM Solutions that teaches you how to handle hard conversations at work, with an AI coach you can practice on.
The 5-Step Conversation Framework
- Prepare. Get clear on what you need to say and what outcome you want before you walk in.
- Listen. Understand the other person's side so they feel heard, even when you disagree.
- Deliver. Say the hard thing clearly and directly, without softening it until it means nothing.
- De-escalate. Stay calm and steady when the other person gets defensive, emotional, or shuts down.
- Close. End with a clear next step so the conversation actually changes something.
Skills you'll build
Empathy, active listening, emotional intelligence, giving feedback, receiving feedback, self-regulation, and conflict resolution.
Who it's for
Early-career professionals and first-time managers who want to handle conflict, giving and receiving feedback, and tough conversations with confidence.
This IS For You If:
- You're tired of dreading Monday because of one unresolved conversation
- You've gotten feedback that you need to 'communicate better' - but nobody showed you how
- You have a specific conversation coming and want to walk in prepared
- Your company doesn't offer real training, so you're investing in yourself
This IS NOT For You If:
- You want to watch videos and check a box
- You think you've already got this figured out
- You're looking for scripts to manipulate people
Ready to Build the Skill Permanently?
The Full Lab includes everything in the 7-day coach, plus the training and tools to make the skill stick.
Not ready for the full lab yet? Start with just the AI Coach — 7 days for $20 →
WHO'S BEHIND THIS?
Mike McKenna built the Difficult Conversations Lab from more than twenty-five years training professionals in emergency response, healthcare, and public safety, including major disaster response and white-collar investigations for Fortune 500 companies. He founded TEAM Solutions in 2011.
That conversation isn't going away.
Every day you wait, it gets heavier.
Get in, get the skills, and walk in ready.
Seven days. Unlimited practice. $20 to stop dreading it.
** Use it as often as your work requires, all year. Cancel anytime. Be sure to read the fair-use terms for the AI coaches.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Difficult Conversations Lab cost?
The AI Coach Only option is $20 for 7 days of access. The Full Lab is $79 for 30 days of access, plus the complete course and certificate.
What's the difference between Coach Only and the Full Lab?
Coach Only gets you the diagnostic quiz and the AI practice coach for a week, built for when you have a hard conversation coming up fast. The Full Lab adds the 6-lesson course, job aids, and a certificate of completion, built for when you want the skill to stick.
How does the AI coach work?
You practice a real scenario with an AI that responds like the person you're actually dreading, defensive, evasive, or emotional, so you walk into the real conversation already having had it once.
How long does it take?
The AI coach sessions run as long as you need. The Full Lab's 6 lessons and 3 quizzes typically take a few hours total, spread over your 30 days of access.
Do I get a certificate?
Yes, with the Full Lab. You earn it by passing all 3 quizzes at 100% and completing at least 2 AI coach scenarios. It's not a certificate for showing up.
Want the full system + certificate? Get the Complete Lab - $79 →
Want to know which pattern is yours? Take the free 2-minute diagnostic.