Confident Conversations for Small Business
How to handle tricky clients calmly and professionally
Home-based and micro-business owners often avoid awkward conversations, complaints, late payments, unclear expectations, and extra requests because they feel “too small” to push back. This workshop teaches them how to protect their time, boundaries and wellbeing without conflict.
Key inclusions:
Why clients push back or “scope creep” happens
A simple script for handling tricky conversations
PEPA mini version for micro-businesses
Phrases they can use tomorrow (templates)
Mini scenarios they can choose from (late payer, unhappy customer, unrealistic request)
Outcome: Participants leave feeling braver, clearer, and more equipped to hold difficult conversations kindly but confidently.
Bookings essential
Presenter Bio: Sarah M. Blake
Conflict Strategist & Mediator: Strategy, Calm, and Clarity in Conflict
Sarah M Blake is an internationally recognised Conflict Strategist, Mediator, and Leadership Coach with over 29 years of experience helping people and organisations navigate conflict, complexity, and change. A multi-award-winning mediator and bestselling author, Sarah is known for her rare ability to turn hard conversations into opportunities for alignment, innovation, and leadership growth.
Her work sits at the intersection of governance, culture, and people dynamics, spanning local government, defence, mining, native title, and community sectors. Drawing on her background as an Advanced Accredited Mediator (Resolution Institute & IMI), TEDx presenter, and federal panel mediator, Sarah brings both credibility and compassion to her work.
What sets Sarah apart is her practical, human-centred approach. She helps leaders and teams stay grounded under pressure — building capability, confidence, and connection in the moments that matter most. Whether she’s coaching a CEO, facilitating a council reset, or training frontline teams, Sarah’s sessions are authentic, energising, and deeply relevant to real workplace challenges
Sarah’s work continues to help local government leaders create safer, more capable teams - not by avoiding conflict, but by leading through it.