Enhance your work relationships and culture by learning how to approach difficult conversations with confidence. 

Course Description 

Learn strategies for engaging in difficult conversations with people at work, such as giving a colleague or direct report critical feedback, approaching your manager with a concern, or even engaging a disgruntled patron. You will assess your own conflict style in order to bring self-awareness into all conversations, and will learn and practice several conflict resolution methods.

You will leave this 2-hour crash course with grounding techniques and rhetorical strategies to increase your ability to engage kindly, yet firmly, in a way that matches your values.

The live sessions run on Thursday, September 21, 2023 from 2:00-4:00 pm ET (recorded for on-demand viewing). Don’t miss this opportunity!

Learning Outcomes

After you attend this crash course, you’ll be able to:

• Understand your own conflict style and how it impacts conversations and conflict at work

• Use trauma-informed practices to ground yourself and guide conversations

• Engage in difficult conversations with cultural humility

• Initiate difficult conversations with confidence and a strategy for success

• Navigate power dynamics involved in difficult conversations

Who should take this course 

This course is geared toward aspiring managers, current managers, and leaders. That said, any librarian or educator who seeks to grow their skills and confidence in having difficult conversations will benefit from these skills.

Expected time commitment: 

If you attend or watch the recordings of all live sessions, you'll spend approximately 2 hours on this course. You'll earn 2 hours of PD credit and a Library Journal certificate of completion. 

Live sessions are also available on demand for six months

Can’t make a live session? All guest speaker sessions are recorded and available on demand for six months following the initial broadcast.

Certificate of completion provided 

2 professional development credit hours

For support with online courses, please contact libraryjournal@edmaker.co

Accessibility

All guest speaker sessions feature live captioning and are made available on demand after the initial broadcast. Please email libraryjournal@edmaker.co upon registration if you require any special accommodations and we will make our best efforts to facilitate them.

Have a team attend and increase your impact!

Discounted registration fees are available for groups of 3 or more. 

Send us a request for a quote.

By registering for this event you confirm that you have read and agree to our Code of Conduct.

For support with online courses, please contact libraryjournal@edmaker.co.

Thursday, September 21, 2023

Session 1 | 2:00-2:50 pm EST

Conflict Resolution: Goals and Perspectives

When we engage in challenging conversations, our bodies show stress through sweaty palms and elevated heart rates, and it can be difficult to think clearly. In this session, you will learn practical pathways to manage unexpected difficult conversations, as well as when it is appropriate to engage in purposeful conflict resolution. We will discuss how power dynamics, personal experiences, trauma, and culture affect work relationships. You will also discover your own preferred conflict style, and how it can be adapted for healthier conversations  with colleagues, staff, and patrons.

Speaker: 

Crystal Trice, CSM, CSM@Scale, Library Consultant, Scissors & Glue, LLC

Break | 2:50-3:00 EST

Session 2 | 3:00-3:30 pm EST

Difficult Conversations: Preparation and Methods

Proactively preparing what you might say during challenging conversations can help you once you’re in a tense situation, including giving critical feedback, whether to a direct report or a peer. This session will focus on specific phrases you can have at-the-ready when initiating and responding in difficult conversations. You will also learn three proven conflict resolution methods that will give you tips and tools to approach other people directly, kindly, and confidently. 

Speakers: 

Session 3 | 3:30-4:00 pm EST

Interactive Working Session

This live, moderated discussion will give you an immediate opportunity to process and apply the skills you’ve learned in the previous sessions. You will have the opportunity to join on camera and audio to discuss ideas, ask questions, and hear from other participants in class. 

Speaker: 

Online Course Preview

A preview of how we build your library skills and bring inspiration to your projects with our online learning experience.

2-Hour Online Crash Course Format

Inspiring Live Guest Speakers 

Live session with Andrea Blackman and Tasneem Ansariyah Grace	Live Guest Speakers  Live, expert speaker sessions with audience Q&A (session recordings available on demand if you can’t join live) Option to join on camera to participate in interactive discussions and activities with course presenters and peers

Online Course Features

Recordings of guest speakers

Recordings Available After The Live Session Real-time guest speakers and conversation via live video stream (with recordings available afterward)

Early Access On Demand Resources

Early Access and Ongoing Resources To Support Learning Supporting resources (articles, videos, worksheets) in the online classroom to provide a foundation for your work Access all course content for six months after the course ends Bonus: Register early and get immediate access to archival video recordings from related courses and other bonus content