Having Hard Conversations

As administrators, coaches or colleagues, we often come up against situations where difficult topics must be addressed. What do we know about the best strategies for those moments? What questions should we be asking ourselves before we speak, and what environments are best for when we do speak?

Based on Ms Abrams’ book, Having Hard Conversations, and her work with conflict and interpersonal communication, this session will provide participants with action plans and scripting tools for having those necessary hard conversations.

Outcomes: Participants will learn how to. . .

• Identify why they hesitate having hard conversations
• Choose questions to ask themselves before they choose to speak up
• Articulate in professional language the challenges they are facing
• Determine the goals of the conversation and write an action plan of support
• Script the conversation avoiding trigger words that put others on the defensive
• Choose the best ‘wheres’ and ‘whens’ for a productive discussion

Target Audience: All disciplines, all levels.

Continuum Level: 3 = Initiating Implementation (setting structures, developing skills, piloting practice, scaffolding support)

Being Generationally Savvy: Working Effectively Across Generations

Have you noticed your newer employees feel, look and act differently than novice colleagues you remember? Are you hearing of communication challenges between colleagues of different ages? Are you becoming aware more employees want a life-work balance vs. a work-life balance? Generational factors might be coming into play.

Who are these four generations in our workplaces? What are their strengths and needs? What structures and communication protocols should we design to work well with them all? And, what knowledge do we need to help every group thrive?

Using Ms Abrams’ book, The Multigenerational Workplace: Communicate, Collaborate and Create Community, this workshop will provide tools and resources on this increasingly intriguing topic.

Outcomes: Participants will learn how to. . .

• Formulate a better understanding of each generation’s motivations and needs in the workplace
• Prepare tools and structures that will translate into better, more effective collaboration for generationally diverse teams
• Become more skilled at creating a climate of inclusion for all generations
• Adapt one’s language skills to communicate effectively with different generations

Target Audience: All

Continuum Level: 2 = Deepening Understanding (theory-based learning, investigating models, identifying experts)

NESA's Learning Continuum: