Managers at the University have a vital role to play in listening and providing advice, support and guidance and also sometimes difficult messages - to team members, to students and to colleagues. These conversations can be difficult to have but are essential to developing and supporting others. The aim of this workshop is to enhance communication skills and to provide effective approaches to help you engage in confident conversations in all aspects of your professional role. The workshop is highly interactive and allows space for reflection, practise and application to your own role.

Course structure

• This course has 2 sessions, approximately 2 weeks apart, the first session is in-person and the second, virtually.
• There is a requirement to complete pre-work in advance and work with colleagues in between the 2 sessions.
• You must be able to commit to both sessions and all the required work.
• Please check if the workshop is delivered on campus as an person event or on Zoom as a virtual event, details can be found within the course dates section of this page.

Please ensure before booking your place on session 1 that you are available to attend session 2 of this two-part course.

Who should attend

Anyone with responsibility for handling difficult conversations - with teams, individuals or students.

Presenters: Thérèse Turner, Berkshire Consultancy Ltd and Kate Elliott, L&OD Manager (UoB)

This online course uses blended learning to make the most of your time, focusing the live sessions on interaction, knowledge sharing and practice, and ensuring you have plenty of opportunities to embed learning on the job. Please note that you will need to complete all accompanying work and come to the session prepared and ready to engage with your colleagues.

The pre-work for this course will take approximately 45 minutes to complete for each workshop.

Click on the weblinks to access pre work for session 1 and session 2

By the end of the course you will be able to:

• identify when to use a directive or non-directive style;
• plan and prepare for a confident conversation;
• practice using active listening and holding a confident conversation;
• reflect on your experience;
• create an action plan to put learning into practice.

• Conducts challenging conversations calmly, and with confidence
• Listens carefully, and communicates openly and effectively
• Uses coaching techniques to motivate and improve performance

Please note that attending the course does not provide evidence of achieving these behaviours; you will need to demonstrate them by applying your skills and knowledge.

Access online tools and support on-demand via the Development Toolkit, such as:

• Management 101: Difficult Conversations (elearning)
• Planning to have a difficult conversation

Discussing your learning and development with your line manager

We assume that if you need permission or agreement to attend this course you will have arranged this before booking, and have also jointly discussed the following with your line manager to ensure that the training is suitable and your learning can be transferred back to the workplace:

• how this training will help to deliver your individual/team goals
• the expected outcomes (i.e. what is expected to change/improve as a result)
• any support required post-course to enable you to transfer your learning back to the workplace

Your manager will receive an automated notification when you book or cancel a place on a course using ESS.

Book a place

You must book your place using Employee Self-Service (ESS). Places will be available to book on self-service up to 24 hours before the course, to allow for participants to complete the required pre-work. Download instructions on how to book your place using ESS.

The sessions will be delivered online. You will receive the 'zoom link' to the session within an automated email reminder, provided 1 week before the course date. If you have not used zoom previously, you are required to register. Information can be found here.

Please ensure you are set up ready for the virtual session '5 minutes before the course start time' and that you have switched your camera 'on' before joining the interactive session.

Please note that we do not hold a waiting list for this course.

Cancel your place

You can cancel your place using Employee Self-Service (ESS). Download instructions on how to cancel your place using ESS.

Please cancel your place as early as possible, and at least 3 days in advance, to allow others to book instead.