From Tension to Clarity:
Preparing for High-Stakes Conversations
Join us in July at the Goodman Community Center for an in-person event in featuring Katie Kolon of Mutual Ground Strategies
For solopreneurs and consultants, important conversations carry real risk. A pricing issue. Scope creep. Misaligned expectations. A referral relationship that feels strained. Not every tension requires confrontation, but some conversations are necessary to protect your business.
In this interactive session, we will use a short diagnostic to help you assess whether a conversation is warranted. Then we will walk through a structured preparation framework from the Important Conversations Playbook.
You will learn how to:
- Clarify whether the issue is about strategy, boundaries, expectations, or values.
- Identify and name the emotions driving the situation rather than suppressing them.
- Surface your needs, interests, and non-negotiables.
- Create a shared problem statement or goal before jumping to positions.
- Use reframing to reduce defensiveness and move toward constructive dialogue.
Participants will leave with a practical preparation worksheet and tools they can immediately apply to client relationships, partnerships, and personal conversations.
About the Presenter
Katie Kolon is the founder of Mutual Ground Strategies, where she helps business owners, founders, and consultants address conflict before it erodes trust or profitability. Her work centers on preparing leaders for important conversations that carry both relational and financial risk.
Katie is a certified mediator and mediation coach with more than a decade of experience facilitating high-stakes discussions. A former employment law attorney with a background in Customer Experience Operations, she understands the pressures consultants face when client relationships become strained.
Her facilitative approach emphasizes preparation, emotional awareness, boundary clarity, and structured dialogue so leaders can address difficult issues directly while preserving long-term working relationships.
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AGENDA:
8 - 8:30 am: Networking and introductions
8:30 - 10 am: Announcements, program and wrap up
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PROGRAM LOGISTICS:
When. Thursday, July 9 • 8:00 AM–10:00 AM CST
Where. Bea Christensen Room, Goodman Community Center Brassworks Building, 214 Waubesa Street, Madison, WI 53704.
Cost. Free for Members & Guests
Register Today!
Guests always welcome!
Membership Statement: Guests are welcome to attend up to 3 events in any format for free. Membership is then required to access programming, networking, and special projects or events.
