Sessions

Stepping up and having a difficult conversation is no fun, easy task: it’s uncomfortable and stressful. But if we choose to not say anything, the issue is unlikely to get better and potentially can get even worse. This session focuses on how to effectively engage in open, meaningful dialogue, which will help us more fully understand one another and achieve enhanced, more productive and positive relationships. Learn to share tough messages in a way that maximizes candor and minimizes defensiveness, using six powerfully effective strategies.

Learning Objectives:

• When you bring up a concern, realize how the other person’s perception of your intent—why you brought it up—will influence their behavior during the discussion.
• Determine the correct timing and location for a conversation, and when a face-to-face conversation is not possible, understand the challenges.
• Begin a conversation in an effective way that invites dialogue, clearly communicating the facts and focusing on the behavior rather than on the person.
• Encourage the other person to share their thoughts and feelings, acknowledging your understanding of their point of view and asking questions for clarification when appropriate.
• Discover how to effectively reduce defensiveness when sharing a tough message, to recognize natural tendencies when emotions begin to elevate, and to quickly correct unintentional poor behavior, getting the discussion back on track.