Transformative Conversations Programme

In uncertain times, sensitive and potentially challenging conversations can become increasingly daunting. The recent realities of Covid-19 have, for many, created unprecedented levels of change and ambiguity. This combined with the move to using online platforms to communicate can make relating virtually a complex skill to develop.

The Transformative Conversations Programme is a series of three half-day workshops with reflection and asynchronous working between sessions to support participants in developing an understanding of context, self and others and to build the confidence to have challenging conversations within their teams and institution.

Effective conversations are informed by an understanding of how issues of privilege, power, diversity and bias can impact on the way we communicate. A focus on the skills required to build authentic and positive relationships which acknowledge diversity, respect lived experiences and address unacceptable behaviour, will help those involved navigate their way through issues as part of transformative conversations that are both supportive and challenging.

Focusing on what we want to create – the new reality that we aspire to be a part of – can transform the conversations that we are currently having for positive change.

To equip themselves to navigate challenging conversations effectively, leaders and managers need to develop emotional intelligence, enhance self-awareness, build empathy, and hone their ability to influence changes in behaviour.

The programme is delivered in three half-day virtual workshops with reflection and asynchronous working between sessions.

• Workshop 1: Key Principles and preparing ourselves for transformative conversations
• Workshop 2: Developing Self and Others
• Workshop 3: Understanding and Practice

Each workshop will explore the challenges of having a range of difficult conversations, with particular attention to what works well. 

Difficult conversations may include those exploring the lived experiences of marginalised groups or encouraging the exchange and dissemination of different ways of thinking about and new approaches to key equality, diversity and inclusion challenges.

Additionally conversations within the institution across faculties, schools or departments can often involve discussion about the use of limited resources, strategy and priorities or organisational structure and performance improvement.

The workshops will aim to help participants increase their confidence in having difficult conversations and develop the ability to ask more transformative questions to face challenges in a new creative way.

The workshops will also help participants to look at ways to change the language used when addressing difficult subject areas to unlock a possibility of seeing things differently and instigating different outcomes.