How do I have tough conversations without getting triggered?

Start by preparing before you speak. Notice what is driving you emotionally, separate the facts from the story your brain is telling, calm the urgency underneath the words, and decide how you want to show up before the conversation begins.

Who is the Grounded Conversations workshop for?

The Grounded Conversations workshop is for high-achieving women, women leaders, working moms, and professionals who want to have hard conversations without getting defensive, emotional, resentful, overwhelmed, or overly focused on managing the other person's reaction.

What will I learn in the Grounded Conversations workshop?

You will learn what to do before the conversation starts, including how to pause before speaking, understand what is driving you, separate facts from story, and show up with clarity, courage, and self-respect.

Do I need the perfect script for a tough conversation?

No. The perfect script is not the most important part of a hard conversation. A grounded conversation starts with the inner work before the words: understanding your emotional fuel, calming urgency, and deciding how you want to show up.

Free Live Workshop

Say What Needs to Be Said Without Needing the Perfect Script

If there’s a conversation you keep rehearsing, avoiding, or hoping will magically resolve itself, this workshop is for you. Learn how to stay grounded and speak honestly—even when the conversation feels hard.

Come live and learn how to:

Say what’s true without overexplaining, shutting down, or becoming defensive.
Stay connected to yourself when the other person is disappointed or upset.
Stop searching for the perfect words and speak with greater clarity.
Set a boundary without needing to control how the other person responds.

Join us live if you can. You’ll have a chance to learn, reflect, and practice alongside other people who are ready to approach hard conversations differently.

Thursday, June 25, 2026 • 12:00–1:00 PM CT

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Can’t attend live? Register anyway and we’ll send you the replay.

Watch this if you’ve been rehearsing the conversation but still don’t feel ready to have it.

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Live workshop + replay included.

This workshop is for you if

You Know the Conversation Needs to Happen But You Don’t Trust How It Will Go

You are not avoiding the conversation because you do not care. You are avoiding it because you do care — and you do not want to make things worse, hurt their feelings, lose your cool, or walk away feeling like you abandoned yourself again.

The thoughts running through your mind

“I need to say something,” but I’m afraid they’ll get defensive, upset, or make it about them.

“I just need to be honest,” but underneath that honesty is hurt, resentment, urgency, or the need for them to finally understand.

“What if I say too much?” Or cry. Or shut down. Or over-explain. Or leave wishing I had said it differently.

“Maybe I should just let it go,” but then you keep replaying it in your head, feeling annoyed, hurt, or resentful.

“I don’t want to make things worse,” so you keep managing their reaction before the conversation even starts.

This is the work before the words.

Meet your workshop host

Hi, I’m Liz Jolley.

Liz Jolley, founder of The School of Courage and host of The Great Leader Great Mom Podcast

I help high-achieving women have the conversations they keep rehearsing in their heads — without getting triggered, defensive, resentful, or overwhelmed.

Before founding The School of Courage™, I spent 22 years in the corporate world as an engineer and leader, including work in innovation, culture, and leadership development. I know what it feels like to lead in high-pressure environments, manage complex relationships, and try to stay calm when the conversation really matters.

I’m also a single mom, coach, and host of The Great Leader Great Mom Podcast, where I teach women how to lead courageously at work and love deeply at home without losing themselves in the process.

Grounded Conversations is not about memorizing the perfect script. It is about learning how to pause, clean up the emotional fuel underneath your words, and walk into hard conversations with clarity, courage, and self-respect.

22 years corporate leadership Engineer turned coach with real-world leadership experience.

Podcast host Host of The Great Leader Great Mom Podcast for women who lead at work and home.

Founder of The School of Courage™ Helping high-achieving women end overwhelm and lead grounded.

I’m so glad you’re here.

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