Critical Conversations (P244)

Techniques to Resolve Conflict and Nurture Productive Relationships

This course will be scheduled in early 2024. We will add dates to the website as soon as they become available. For more information please contact us at opentraining@pmctraining.com or call 613-234-2020, ext. 18.

Whether you’re delivering bad news, giving a negative performance evaluation, challenging a colleague or client, objecting to additional workload, presenting options in the midst of a crisis, or simply letting people know that the direction on a certain project is changing — communicating difficult subject matter can be an emotionally charged event. Understandably, many people would do anything to avoid that situation.

Yet avoiding critical and difficult conversations or mishandling them can result in many negative consequences.

Learn how being assertive, open, honest and fair in your critical conversations, and fostering others to do the same, can develop alignment and agreement within your organization.

Encouraging open and honest dialogues around important, emotional, or risky topics – at any level – can significantly reduce and resolve conflict, nurture relationships and boost productivity and efficiency.

This workshop is designed to help individuals, teams and organizations improve the way they approach their critical conversations, with confidence, and manage the conversation skillfully so that feelings are spared and the organization’s best interests are kept front and center.

This is a one-day workshop in Ottawa.

Space is still available for all course dates listed, unless otherwise noted.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this seminar, you will be able to:

Confront challenging issues with confidence and skill
Identify when feedback is no longer appropriate, and the right time and place for having a “critical conversation” or confrontation
Speak persuasively, not abrasively
Learn how to suspend judgement to check for understanding
Learn to have healthy, open, honest, respectful discussions
Engage in effective, consequential conversations that resolve tough challenges

Workshop Topics

What is a Critical Conversation?

Define a critical conversation
Understand why people are afraid to speak up

Deciding to Have the Conversation

Know what the possibilities are when faced with a critical conversation
Understand your options

Preparing and Mastering Critical Conversation

Determine your desired outcomes
Appreciate the profound power of a dialogue
Getting into the right mindset to have the conversation without jumping to conclusions and making assumptions

How to Stay Focused on What You Want

Use the 6 sources of influence

How to Turn Critical Conversations into Action and Results

4 methods of decision making
Put decisions into actions
4 important questions
7 steps to mastering difficult conversations

Who Should Attend This Course?

Individuals, team leads, supervisors, managers and directors who would like to improve the way they approach difficult conversations, and manage the conversation skillfully so that feelings are spared and the organization’s best interests are kept front and center.

Does This Course Address Your Competency Development Needs?

This training workshop addresses:

• Analytical Thinking
• Communication
• Conflict Resolution
• Dealing with Difficult Situations
• Decision Making
• Emotional Intelligence
• Impact / Influence
• Interpersonal Relations
• Leadership
• Management Excellence
• Problem Solving
• Self Confidence / Self Esteem
• Teamwork and Cooperation
• Values and Ethics
• Working with Others