Managing Challenging Conversations - Virtual

Personal benefits

This program will help you become better at one of the most challenging parts of a being a leader. You will leave with:

• A stronger mental model of how to approach challenging conversations
• More confidence in your ability to resolve performance issues
• Fewer reasons to delay difficult conversations

Organizational benefits

Organizations will benefit from facilitating their leaders' development. They will:

• See quicker resolution of potentially high stakes situations
• Have fewer issues that fester and drain productivity and morale
• Have fewer people under-performing in ways that they are unaware of
• See organizational flashpoints dealt with in a productive way with greater frequency

The program covers the following curriculum:

• How to effectively deliver corrective feedback
• How to avoid the four traps that can trigger defensiveness rather than reflection and openness to change
• A practical map for confronting issues in a way that is direct but focused on development and preserving the relationship
• How to deliver an opening statement that will minimize defensiveness and promote open exploration of challenges
• How to move through the resistance that is part of a challenging conversation
• How to move to resolution and accountability
• How to prepare yourself to minimize your own emotional reactivity

Dynamic Virtual Classroom

Participate in the program from anywhere. Our online learning platform combines live, interactive video instruction with breakout sessions, panel discussions, and expert Q&A.

Our learning platform is fully encrypted, allowing you to connect securely from home, office or anywhere in between.

Virtual programs are designed to fit within your schedule, allowing you to learn new skills and immediately put them to work.

Session Leaders

Session leaders include senior professors from Smith School of Business and knowledgeable experts from industry. These outstanding teachers are constantly in touch with today's business world through real-world business experience, Board memberships and their own consulting practices.

Garry Watanabe

Consultant
Third Factor

Garry is a lawyer, an instructor at Queen's Smith School of Business, a coach development expert, and holds a Master’s Degree in Sport Psychology. He spent the first five years of his career in the world of corporate law before a passion for coaching led him to switch careers to become a professional swimming coach. He then spent the next eight years directing elite swimming programs, first in Canada and then in Southern California—arguably the most competitive swimming environment in North America. Looking to combine his business experience with his coaching background, he joined Third Factor - a company focused on helping individuals, teams, and organizations harness the power of pressure. Since then, he has worked with high performers in the worlds of business, Olympic sport, healthcare and education, helping them apply the principles of coaching, collaboration and resilience in their most crucial performances.