Tackling Challenging Conversations

The ongoing task of developing talented people requires many kinds of conversations. No matter how effective you are as a coach and manager you will face situations that require tough conversations. In fact, working with hard-working, high-achieving, committed people requires challenging conversations if they and you are to continue to grow and excel.

Location	Date
Kingston	Nov 24 to Nov 25, 2009

Fees

$1600 (plus GST)

The program will enable you to:

• Tackle Challenging Conversations - Develop the confidence to eliminate conflict, rather than delaying or avoiding challenging conversations.
• Grow and Excel - challenging conversations are necessary for the growth of committed and hard working people.
• Keep your emotions under control - Implement challenging conversations and listen objectively to others.
• Acquire self awareness - Self management skills are necessary to stay cool, calm and focused throughout the conversation.

Who will benefit:

Tackling challenging conversations was designed for three main groups:

• Managers who want to further improve their coaching ability
• Leaders who want to challenge people in a way that builds trust and confidence
• People working in teams who need to positively resolve differences with others

Organizational Benefits

Improve decision-making processes within your department or across the organization leading to increased effectiveness and reduced risk.

• More courageous managers willing to challenge others to excel and make tough decisions.
• Productive engaged employees. There is a high correlation between one´s ability to handle conflict and productivity.
• Increased energy and morale, enabling strong relationships and employee satisfaction.
• A healthier, more positive work environment

Program structure and content

Topics

Tackling Challenging Conversations

• Review of the coaching model and how confrontation fits within this style of managing.
• Self assessment (Thomas-Kilman Conflict Management Instrument) to determine personal tendencies in conflict situations
• Preparing oneself to be self-assured
• Managing yourself "in the moment" during a challenging conversation
• Preparing an opening for a challenging conversation that reduces negative reaction
• Common roadblocks to successful outcomes and how to avoid them
• Four key communication skills that create an honest, safe environment
• Structuring and directing the conversation to a successful outcome
• "Putting it together" - prepare, deliver and receive coaching on an impending difficult conversation

Session Leaders

Garry Watanabe - Performance Coaching Inc.

Garry started out his career as a lawyer and spent five years developing his corporate experience in the competitive world of law. During this time Garry came to realize that his passion for coaching and developing others was overtaking his desire to be a lawyer. This passion drove Garry to obtain his Master’s Degree in Sport Psychology and seek out coaching opportunities. Garry spent the next ten years as a national level coach, first directing programs at Carleton University and then heading to Southern California to coach in the most competitive swimming environment in North America. He now focuses on applying the principles of coaching, mental fitness, and challenging conversations to a wider range of performers in his work with Performance Coaching

Karyn Garossino - Performance Coaching Inc.

An exceptional workshop facilitator and trainer, Karyn has considerable experience in tackling challenging situations. Her resilience, poise and skill under pressure were built from the ground up. Karyn first learned these skills as an athlete then deepened her theoretical understanding of them through academic study in psychology and education. Karyn excelled in the intense world of high performance sport as a competitive figure skater. Her career spanned ten years of international competition, including five world championships and culminated as a 1988 Olympian and Canadian champion in 1989. Her experience as a national level coach, executive coach and now trainer, focuses on application – helping others deal with challenges that require skill and poise under pressure while still getting results.