How to Profit from Challenging Conversations: Fostering Excellence

Time Allocation - Topics

60% Manage the conversation as effectively as possible, from beginning to end • Learn a dynamic, 5-step methodology – that's systematic, practical, plus easy-to-remember. • Apply this methodology to your situation. • Prepare for the conversation with 3 questions to dramatically improve your chances for success. • Open the conversation so that you immediately engage the other person and signal mutual benefit. • Practice powerful listening techniques. • Learn how to explain your perspective in a way that gets heard. 20% Increase your resilience - before, during and after the conversation • Learn 4 techniques to increase your confidence and effectiveness. • Practice how to focus and really pay attention. • Challenge your assumptions and discover how to separate facts from story. • Learn how to avoid getting triggered - and what to do if you, or the other person, do get triggered. 20% Flex your style with the right combination of talking and listening • Identify your preferred conflict style. • Learn how to complement your conflict style with other options. • Identify when you should start by listening to the other person’s story – and when you shouldn’t. • Discover how to resolve conflict by re-defining the problem.

Seminar Description

It’s tempting to avoid difficult conversations at work. They feel uncomfortable; they seem risky. But often there’s a risk in not having these conversations. At meetings, people may not be straightforward about their true opinions. “Agreements” that are reached may lack real buy-in. Problems may be allowed to go on, and on, and on. The issue is how to conduct these conversations with skill. In this program, you’ll identify a specific, challenging conversation that you intend to have at work in the next 30 days; then you’ll learn the skills to manage it effectively. Throughout the workshop, you’ll apply new tools, tactics and techniques to your situation. The purpose of the workshop is to jump-start your conversation.

Guide to Participant Selection

Department

Admin

Distrib

Engr

Finc

H.R.

Legal

Mktng

IT

Opr

Plng

Pchsg

R&D

Sales

Senior Executive
(Pres, Exec & Sr VP) 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

Executive
(VP & Gen'l Mgr)
2 2 2 2 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

Senior Managers
(Div & Reg. Mgrs) 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Middle Managers
& Superintendents 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

APPLICABILITY:
1 indicates primary target audience.
2 indicates a good fit if the level of material is appropriate.
3 indicates (in the opinion of the institute and the faculty) very limited applicability.