How to have Better Conversations

9.6

(5 ratings)

3 Weeks

Cohort-based Course

Collaboration's most essential - and most overlooked - skill

How to have Better Conversations

9.6

(5 ratings)

3 Weeks

Cohort-based Course

Collaboration's most essential - and most overlooked - skill

Hosted by

Steve McCann and Judy Rees

Course overview

Increase productivity and innovation through open and honest collaboration

If you’re ever faced with frustration, confusion, conflict or conversations that fail to achieve their objectives, we can help.

We understand the damage that poor communication can have on productivity, service and value for money.

It also gets in the way of being a happy, focused and effective organisation - or alliance of linked organisations.

The course was developed to facilitate communication in teams and with customers. It worked for us. And we want to share it with you.

This course is for...

Partners in integrated care who want to create genuine connections across health and care, especially under time and budget pressure

Leaders in social impact who seek to deliver results through networks, multi-agency collaborations and with volunteer stakeholders

Aspiring leaders who need to have more intentional and productive conversations with colleagues, who they may not yet know well

Partners in integrated care who want to create genuine connections across health and care, especially under time and budget pressure

Leaders in social impact who seek to deliver results through networks, multi-agency collaborations and with volunteer stakeholders

Aspiring leaders who need to have more intentional and productive conversations with colleagues, who they may not yet know well

Anyone who takes a client brief in a professional context and needs to ensure that they understand what is really wanted

What you’ll get out of this course

Higher productivity

Simply, more stuff gets done in less time because we can cut out the time wasted due to misunderstandings

Clarity

A clearer focus on projects and tasks, what needs to be done and how these might be achieved together

Robust solutions

Fast learning, improved ideation and innovation because we can challenge each other safely

Improved teamwork

Better collaboration and accountability to ensure things get done well

Better relationships

Our team and customer relationships have improved through greater understanding and respect for other people's views and experiences

Resilience

We support people to work at their best and have the conversations that encourage reflection and development

Want Better Conversations in your organisation? Download our brochure >

Course schedule

Five one-hour sessions over three weeks

For forthcoming dates, please contact us.

9.6

(5 ratings)

What people are saying

Very well prepared and extremely well presented course. Having it divided up into 1-hour sessions made it very manageable in my work schedule and the "stripy format" of input - interaction - input - interaction and so on was highly engaging throughout. I am taking away a very rich basket of new nuggets of knowledge and ideas.

Vicky Bevan

Agile Coach and Scrum Master

I have to give much credit to our two facilitators for their delivery of this wonderful course. Interesting format too: all virtual, 5 one-hour classes with a sixth bonus class. Hard to tell what was scripted and what was improvised, but a very solid structure and much to consider as I navigate both personal and professional conversations.

Dr Jeffrey Sheen

Senior Innovation Manager

"Some of the questions we learned were brilliant. They were so powerful but so simple, it was easy to add them to my toolbox. I can use them as easily with the kids as with colleagues."

Robert

Technical Programme Manager, Financial Services

All the insights I gained were startlingly unexpected and so simple. I could put them into practice straight away.

Emma

MD, Business Services

Can’t recommend this enough!! Judy’s depth of knowledge and expertise in Clean Language combined with her experience and sense of fun when working with groups or training facilitators (of any type) combine to deliver first class courses, which are INSTANTLY usable and teach a powerful set of tools and techniques.

Ray Whiting

Agile Delivery Manager

From the first training session I had with Judy, I was hooked on Clean Language. She introduced the skills in a way that I could take away and use immediately. [It] has had a profound impact on how I work day to day when asking questions, having insightful conversation… and simply observing people's conversations.

Ashley Meerloo

Coach and trainer

One the best trainings I have participated in. Judy, thank you wholeheartedly! I enjoyed every bit of the training.

Ayman Qwaider

Arabic Language Community Facilitator, INEE - Inter-agency Network for Education in Emergencies

"The way the course was organised, I quite quickly felt open, confident and able to share experiences with people."

Emilie

Wholesale Business Development Manager, Healthcare

Meet your trainers

Steve McCann

Steve has worked in complexity and overwhelm throughout his career. From International Peacekeeping into Project and Management Consulting, and over 20 years in the humanitarian sector.

Steve believes that when people come before process and outcomes before solutions, you can get more things done, whatever the context.

Judy Rees

Co-author of the category bestseller Clean Language: Revealing Metaphors and Opening Minds, Judy has helped to make Clean Language a "must have" skill set for advanced communicators.

She has taught hundreds of change agents worldwide including facilitators, coaches, managers and consultants, using online systems to reach beyond the limits of local.

Recent consulting, facilitation and training clients have included the NHS, WHO, NAO and the World Bank.

Be the first to know about upcoming cohorts

How to have Better Conversations

Get reimbursed by your employer

Course syllabus

Module 1: State

How do your thoughts and feelings affect your conversations?

Our thoughts and feelings - what we call "state" - can have a huge impact on conversations. By the end of the hour you’ll be able to identify, name, communicate your state clearly and realise the impact that it has on conversations before they even start.

Module 2: Assumptions

What are you making up when you are in a conversation?

The human brain is an incredible thing. The level of detail it can invent in the absence of, or sometimes even in spite of evidence is staggering. You’ll become aware of assumptions you and others may unconsciously be making and explore their potential impact on your communications.

Module 3: Context

How do you bring meaning to a conversation?

Although we may not realise it, we all bring our personal history, emotions, expectations and more into our communications. You will understand how you bring meaning to your conversations and that impacts communications.

Module 4: Listening with curiosity

How can you influence a conversation?

Discover how a few simple questions combined with a new way of listening can instantly defuse conflict and get to the heart of any issue without emotions and assumptions muddying the water.

Module 5: Feedback

How can you respond and communicate your views?

One kind of conversation where frustrations and misunderstandings are common is where feedback is given and received. In this module we will explore a simple and effective way to approach feedback, taking what we have learnt about state, assumptions and context into account.

Learning is better with cohorts

Active hands-on learning

This course builds on live workshops and hands-on projects

Interactive and project-based

You’ll be interacting with other learners through breakout rooms and project teams

Learn with a cohort of peers

Join a community of like-minded people who want to learn and grow alongside you

Frequently Asked Questions

Where has this course come from?

What happens if I can’t make a live session?

Will my employer reimburse me for the cost of this course?

What’s the refund policy?

Are there three cohorts, for the three different groups of people this is aimed at?

Is VAT included in the price?

Be the first to know about upcoming cohorts

How to have Better Conversations

Get reimbursed by your employer