Managing difficult conversations in private office

Managing difficult conversations in private office jack.sanders Tue, 30/06/2026 - 15:22 4 'How to' guide Institute for Government Yes Ministers Civil servants Private office team IfG Academy Managing difficult conversations in private office No Because private office teams’ sit between ministers and civil servants, they often need to deliver difficult messages across the department. This can be tricky, giving bad news to ministers or senior officials in particular can introduce challenging power dynamics. However, these conversations need to happen and this guide outlines why they are important, what you can do to prepare, and how you can manage them effectively. “I think private offices have an in-built conflict of interest because they both have to serve their department on a career level but also serve their minister, often on a very, very personal level” Maria Miller , culture secretary (2012-14) What kinds of difficult conversations might you have? Relationships are at the heart of private office, and you will help broker difficult conversations by maintaining close working relationships across the department. Scenarios that could require a difficult conversation include