About this session
A useful career conversation is much more than asking an employee where they want to be in five years.
Managers learn to explore ambition without forcing certainty, discuss development without implying a promotion, find realistic opportunities and help employees turn broad goals into practical next steps.
Every format starts with the same foundation, then focuses on the career topics your managers need most, with realistic practice scenarios.
What your people take away
- Run a clear, structured career conversation
- Ask better questions about motivation, strengths and skills
- Discuss growth honestly, including when promotion is not the next step
- Turn conversations into development that leads to action
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- What each length covers, 30 minutes to full day
- Everything that’s covered, part by part
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What each length covers
30 minutes
30 Minutes — Key Points: The career conversation foundationA focused 30-minute session on the essentials of The career conversation foundation: purpose and boundaries, separate development from promotion and structure and questions.
- Purpose and boundaries
- Separate development from promotion
- Structure and questions
Covers The career conversation foundation, in brief.
60 minutes
60 Minutes — The career conversation foundationParticipants learn the purpose, boundaries and structure of a good career conversation.
- The career conversation foundation
- Live Q&A
Covers 1 of 4 parts: The career conversation foundation.
90 minutes
90 Minutes — Clarity, skills and actionBuilds on the 60-minute session. Participants also practice exploring aspirations and skills and turning them into action.
- The career conversation foundation
- Clarity, skills and action
- Live Q&A
Covers 2 of 4 parts: The career conversation foundation and Clarity, skills and action.
3 hours
3 Hours — Growth beyond the next titleBuilds on the 90-minute session. Participants also explore growth without promotion, stretch work and internal mobility.
- The career conversation foundation
- Clarity, skills and action
- Growth beyond the next title
- Live Q&A
Covers 3 of 4 parts: The career conversation foundation, Clarity, skills and action and Growth beyond the next title.
Full day
Full Day — Full-Day Career Conversation IntensiveThe core foundation plus five selected career priorities, case work and advanced conversation practice.
- The career conversation foundation
- Clarity, skills and action
- Growth beyond the next title
- Harder conversations
- Live Q&A
Covers all 4 parts.
Also available as a 4-week or 8-week program, for change that lasts. Ask us about it.
What’s covered
The career conversation foundation
Every length- Purpose and boundariesManagers learn to explore rather than prescribe and to stay honest about what is possible.
- Separate development from promotionThe session shows how to discuss growth without implying a promise.
- Structure and questionsManagers practice a simple structure and a bank of useful questions.
Clarity, skills and action
90 minutes and longer- Career clarity and aspirationsHow to explore what someone wants next without needing a perfect plan.
- Skills and capabilityMoving discussions from job titles to the skills and experiences to build next.
- Plans that lead to actionTurning a good conversation into development that creates movement.
Growth beyond the next title
3 hours and longer- Growth without promotionWays to discuss progression when the next step is not a higher title.
- Stretch and learning through workUsing real work for development without disguising extra workload.
- Internal mobilitySupporting moves across teams instead of holding talent back.
Harder conversations
Full day only- Promotion readinessDiscussing promotion hopes with honesty, evidence and realistic expectations.
- Plateaus and re-engagementSupporting people who feel stuck or under-stretched.
- When the opportunity is not availableHandling the conversation well when the answer is not yet.
Tools and materials
- Manager Career Conversation Planner
- Manager Question Bank
- Conversation Close and Follow-Through Guide
- Practice scenarios
Who it’s for
- New and developing managers
- Manager academies and leadership programs
- Internal mobility and retention initiatives
How booking works
- Book online. Create a free Workbliss profile, then pay with session credits, by card or by invoice.
- Pick a date. Choose a date at least 14 days ahead, or book now and set the date later.
- Choose your expert. Within 3 working days, we send you profiles of the experts available for your date.
- We deliver it. Your expert is briefed on your people and goals, then runs the session live online or at your site.
Questions about Career Development Conversations for Managers
How long is Career Development Conversations for Managers?
Career Development Conversations for Managers runs as 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes, 3 hours or full day. You choose the length when you book. A 30-minute session covers the essentials of The career conversation foundation: purpose and boundaries, separate development from promotion and structure and questions. A 60-minute session covers The career conversation foundation in full, with a live Q&A. A 90-minute session adds Clarity, skills and action. A 3-hour session adds Growth beyond the next title. A full-day session adds Harder conversations. It is also available as a 4-week or 8-week program.
Can Career Development Conversations for Managers be delivered online or in person?
Yes, both. It runs live online, so every office can join at the same time, or in person at your site, in any country.
How do we book Career Development Conversations for Managers?
Create a free Workbliss profile with your work email, then open Career Development Conversations for Managers to see the price for each length and book it. You can pay with session credits, by card or by invoice, and choose a date at least 14 days ahead, or set it later.
Who leads the session?
A vetted Workbliss expert, briefed on your people, culture and goals before the session. After you book, we send you profiles of the experts available for your date within 3 working days, so you can choose who leads it.
Can it be tailored to our company?
Yes. Every session is shaped around your goals, your people and the benefits you already offer, and delivered by experts in your people’s languages.