Conflict Be Gone! Navigating Difficult Conversations

Conflict is a normal part of relationships. It’s not possible for everyone to agree on everything all the time, and to do so can squash creativity and innovation.

In this course, participants will learn how to manage difficult interactions and aim for mutual respect and agreement. By learning skills to navigate difficult conversations, you can communicate with confidence, seeking the win-win solution and keeping your personal and professional relationships strong.

This is an experiential session; please be prepared to participate and practice the skills you need to feel confident and clear when navigating difficult conversations.

Participants will practice and understand how to navigate difficult conversations:

• Start a conversation without defensiveness
• A win-win mindset
• Build awareness for what was said and, more importantly, what was NOT said
• Understand that emotions or feelings get in the way - ours and others’
• How to move from emotion to productive problem solving or even dialogue

Section 1: Start with Creating Safety

Different ways to open

How to start a conversation without defensiveness

Section 2: Communication Styles and Conflict Outcomes

Identify your style and how you relate most often

Help gain a better understanding of yourself and others

Improve your communication with others who have different styles

Section 3: Win-Win Intention

Understand the value in one another’s goals

How to collaboratively reach a resolution

Mutual respect

Section 4: Clues and Cues

Learn to listen and look for what is and isn’t said

How self-talk gets in our way

How can you manage fight or flight?

Section 5: Manage the Emotions and Motivations

Listen for accuracy, not assumptions

Ask open questions that explore and create dialogue

Understand the different ways to use empathy

Explore motivators and needs

Workshop Wrap-Up

Ask questions and fill out an action plan

Final skills review