5th June 2026

The art of the awkward chat

A guide to navigating difficult conversations as a paraplanner.

Most paraplanners enter the profession for the technical work - the research, the analysis, the perfectly crafted suitability report. Difficult conversations? Not so much. And yet, navigating them well is one of the most valuable skills a paraplanner can develop.

Jo Campbell explores how to handle those tricky moments with colleagues, financial advisers and compliance teams - without the dread. Whether it's addressing missed deadlines within your team, pushing back on an incomplete fact find, or seeking clarity on a compliance decision, the approach is the same: be factual, be kind, and listen before you respond.

Framing concerns as questions rather than challenges, building relationships in the quieter moments, and speaking up early can transform potential conflict into productive conversation.

The technical skills got you here. The people skills will take you further.

Read the full article here 👉

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