The Tech Leader's Guide to Difficult Talks That Actually Work

Missed deadlines. Underperforming teammates. Stakeholders pushing too hard. If you're a technical leader, you're probably avoiding at least one conversation that matters. In this workshop, you’ll learn a simple, proven 4-step framework (inspired by Nonviolent Communication) to handle tough conversations with clarity, confidence, and zero drama. Think of it like debugging communication: identify what’s really going on, name it without blame, and make a request that moves things forward.

You’ll also learn two essential FLOW skills to handle what makes these talks hard in the first place—pre-conversation anxiety and post-conversation rumination—and how to own your part without sliding into blame. You’ll leave this workshop with tools to approach difficult conversations with steady confidence and get your point across without triggering confusion or conflict. It will feel less like a confrontation and more like a real conversation—one that actually brings clarity to the situation.

About Hunter Milligan

Hunter has worked and consulted at Fortune 500 companies and has experienced the full spectrum of challenges in software development. As a long time developer turned manager, he’s navigated the high-stress chaos of tight deadlines, shifting priorities, and working with diverse personalities.

For the past 15+ years, Hunter has been coaching teams and individuals to not only survive but thrive. His secret sauce? Practical strategies and easy-to-use meditation techniques tailored to the daily lives of developers and managers. Hunter is focused on assisting engineers to find calm in the chaos, boost productivity, and think with newfound clarity — all while remembering to breathe. After all, the code may be complicated, but staying calm doesn’t need to be.

When not traveling the states or the rest of the world, Hunter greatly enjoys mountain biking, snowboarding, and tai chi.

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