Managing Difficult Conversations

We have so many interactions in the run of a day, it’s reasonable to expect that some of them are going to be difficult. Whether these are conversations that you have in person, or you manage a virtual team and need to speak with someone in another city, there are things that you can do to make these conversations go smoothly. This two-day workshop will give you the tools to manage difficult conversations and get the best results possible out of them.

• How to define their frame of reference
• How to establish a positive intent and a desired outcome
• Good communication skills
• How to draft a script for a difficult conversation
• Use specific steps to carry out a difficult conversation
• How to access additional resources as required
• How to maintain safety in a conversation

We will spend the first part of the day getting to know other participants and discussing what will take place during the workshop. Students will also have an opportunity to identify their personal learning objectives

Your first step in managing a difficult conversation (even if it happens suddenly) is to consider the potential outcomes and decide whether or not the conversation has enough value for you. This session will show participants ways to consider the consequences, as well as how to explore their frame of reference, establish positive intent, and identify what they want from the conversation.

Good communication skills are crucial for a successful conversation. This session will give participants tools for managing their body language, speaking persuasively, active listening, asking questions, and using probing techniques.

This session will give participants tips on choosing a good meeting place and time for a difficult conversation (if they have that option).

Next, participants will explore a seven-step framework for difficult conversations. They will also create a template to help them plan future conversations.

In this session, participants will learn how to handle conversations which might be a threat to their safety.

To wrap up the course, participants will role play a difficult conversation that they have recently encountered.

At the end of the day, students will have an opportunity to ask questions and fill out an action plan.