Managing Difficult Conversations
Gain the confidence to recognize, plan, and manage difficult conversations through hands-on practice experience.
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Sometimes you need to have conversations you would rather not. Whether you’re delivering bad news, giving a negative performance evaluation, objecting to additional workload, presenting options during a crisis, or simply letting people know that the direction of a certain project is changing – communicating difficult topics can be an emotionally charged event. Understandably, many people would do anything to avoid the situation. Unfortunately, avoiding these topics does not make them go away.
During this hands-on workshop, you will gain the confidence to recognize, plan, and manage these conversations by practicing the techniques discussed.
Topics include:
- Identifying key elements of difficult conversations.
- Working through different opinions.
- Preparing for the conversation.
- Making it safe for dialog.
- Speaking from your own perspective.
- Managing high emotions.
- Having the conversation and moving forward.
Program structure
A blend of self-paced and live online content.
Activities include: Individual reflection; discussion in large and small groups; practice activities in pairs; and role-play practice.
Instructor
Nathalie Thompson, MA, PCC, is a Virginia Supreme Court certified mentor mediator and professional facilitator specializing in mediation, conflict resolution leadership development, meeting facilitation and coaching. Nathalie is member of the Restorative Justice (RJ) leadership team for Northern Virginia Mediation Service (NVMS) working to implement RJ in the Fairfax County, VA school and juvenile justice systems. Her expertise includes conflict prevention and resolution, mediation, conflict coaching; restorative justice practices; building and restoring working relationships; building teams and enhancing teamwork; leadership and management development; career coaching.