WE HAVE TO TALK: Managing Difficult Conversations September 24, 2008

What makes difficult conversations so hard? And what attitudes and skills can be developed to improve the process? Based on the texts Difficult Conversations, by Stone, Patton and Heen and Crucial Conversations, by Patterson, Grenny, McMillan and Switzler, this program introduces new strategies for dealing with tough topics, sharing difficult information, and managing interpersonal conflict through inquiry, advocacy and acknowledgment.

Adding mind-body techniques from the martial art aikido, you will practice mental, behavioral and verbal skills to feel more confident expressing yourself, understanding others, and transforming difficult conversations into learning conversations.

You will walk away prepared to hold one difficult conversation.

Begin to turn your difficult conversations into breakthrough opportunities to develop personally, advance professionally, and improve the quality of your interactions.

Learning material will be drawn from the following texts:
Difficult Conversations, Stone, Patton and Heen
Crucial Conversations, Patterson, McMillan, et. al.
Unlikely Teachers: Finding the Hidden Gifts in Daily Conflict, Judy Ringer
The Magic of Conflict, Thomas Crum

Objectives
• Understand best practices for holding difficult conversations
• Practice behavioral and verbal conversation skills
• Apply understanding and skills to real life scenarios
Lunch and Difficult Conversations text included

Comments from past participants
"Your workshop on Difficult Conversations was enormously useful. The new tools helped me prepare for a difficult conversation with my business group, and I'm happy to report that it went exceptionally well - better than expected! I have a newfound confidence. "

"As a 'veteran' in the sales business, I found the day invaluable in helping me to rethink my own difficult conversation techniques...it's so easy to roll with what's familiar and not bring something new to your way of doing things."

Instructor
Judy Ringer provides conflict resolution, team building and communication training throughout the U.S. and Canada with unique workshops based on mind/body principles from the martial art Aikido, in which she holds a black belt. The author of Unlikely Teachers: Finding the Hidden Gifts in Daily Conflict, she brings to life key concepts such as self-management under pressure and appreciation of other viewpoints. Programs are experiential, energetic and fun. Frequently requested within the health, educational and business communities, clients include The National Institutes of Health, BAE Systems, Honda of America Manufacturing, UnumProvident Insurance Corporation, Maine Medical Center, and the States of New Hampshire and Vermont. Judy is founder and chief instructor of Portsmouth Aikido and sole owner of Power & Presence Training, in Portsmouth, NH.
Directions to the site, as well as other logistical information, will be mailed upon registration.

Official Website: http://difficultconversations.eventbrite.com/