Leadership Foundation

Overview
In these times of raising the game, many leaders and managers are finding themselves in the position of having to have difficult conversations – whether it be feedback about insufficient attention to the REF criteria or lack of due care and attention to the NSS and student engagement, for example. This workshop offers a framework, and then space to prepare the approaches and skills, to enable all participants to hone their ability to handle difficult conversations professionally.

Aim
This workshop, for academic and professional services staff, aims to build participants’ courage, confidence and capability in handling difficult conversations well.

Outcomes
By the end of this workshop, participants will have:

• Explored the data to be gathered to assist the planning of difficult conversations
• Considered an appropriate format for handling any difficult conversation
• Practised, in a confidential and safe space, their own difficult conversations
• Determined their individual action plan

Preparatory work
As the workshop will focus on the skills and approaches required for managing sensitive conversations, participants need to ensure that they:

• Are familiar with their University’s policies on sickness absence, capability, appraisal and dismissal
• Bring along a real example of a difficult conversation they have had and would like to review or one they need to hold in the future.

Handling Difficult Conversations is a short half-day workshop aimed for both academic and professional heads and associate heads of department and directorate managers.

If you would like to attend Handling Difficult Conversations please return the completed booking form to Tori Senior, Marketing Coordinator, 0207 849 6908

Fees
The event fees include all costs associated with:

• Materials
• External facilitator

 ‘Short, sharp, focussed and incredibly useful.’
Norman Wienand, Head of Department, Architecture and Planning, Sheffield Hallam University

‘I thought this was an excellent workshop. Academic leadership often involves the need to manage difficult conversations and this workshop provided a safe environment to learn some key lessons about how to do this more effectively.’
Jan Draper, Head of Nursing, The Open University

‘I found the workshop informative and enjoyable with just about the right mix of theory and practical group work.’
Tony Turjansky, Head of Academic Quality, Academic Quality and Development Unit, Edge Hill University