Managing difficult conversations

VCCC Alliance Leadership Academy Series

20 Feb 2024

Explore how you can be assertive, yet respectful and impactful, when it comes to difficult conversations. Learn how to boost your listening skills, focus on facts and evidence, and speak calmly without bias.

Managing difficult conversations is an important skill to have across all levels of any organisation. This virtual session will explore three key topics:

• Assertiveness
  How can I be heard? How do I speak up both respectfully and with impact? We look at 'I' language and 'I statements', where you clearly and respectfully state your views and express your concerns. This allows you to feel more confident when speaking up and minimises the other person's defensiveness, allowing you to be heard.
   
• Boosting listening skills
  Listening is not simply waiting for our turn to speak. Here we explore key strategies around enhancing your listening skills and listening without judgement. There is a strong link between the quality of listening and the outcomes of difficult or challenging conversations.
   
• Differentiating facts from opinions
  When we are in a more emotional state, it is easy to confuse facts and opinions. We may label people's behavior inappropriately, and a small conflict may blow out of proportion. The key is staying calm under pressure, and responding, not reacting. We focus on facts and evidence without opinions and bias. 

Presenter: Peter Schmideg

Peter is a Melbourne-based author, speaker, coach and facilitator with over 25 years' experience, working with a wide variety of organisations  in Australia and overseas. He has graduate and post grad qualifications in organisation dynamics and leadership. He has been a guest speaker at Stanford University, has authored two books, and is also on the Curriculum Advisory Committee at Swinburne University’s Faculty of Business and Law. Peter works across a whole range of sectors that include banking, law, academia, retail, mining, healthcare and automotive. His sessions are always interesting, involving and practical.

Chair: Amanda Piper

Amanda is the Head of Cancer Strategy, Cancer Council Victoria. She leads her team to investigate system level issues through engagement, in order to improve cancer experiences through advocacy and education. Her focus is to drive reforms that improve health equity. Amanda also supports multi-disciplinary collaborations that involve clinicians, researchers, policymakers, and individuals impacted by cancer. With a background in health science, Amanda brings extensive leadership experience in clinical and public health roles across Australia's healthcare system to her work.

How can I access this webinar? 

This webinar is only available to VCCC Alliance Leadership Academy members. Membership is free.

To join VCCC Alliance Leadership Academy, follow the hyperlink below:

Click here to register as a Leadership Academy Member. 

The VCCC Alliance Leadership Academy is a multidisciplinary learning network that will provide leadership education and training, build connections between colleagues and peers, and recognise and celebrate contributions to leadership across the sector.