CAIRNS MAY 2  ~  TOWNSVILLE MAY 14

…Also in CAIRNS MAY 15-16…

Dealing with Difficult Discussions

Do you want to turn the tables on poor performance

and feel better equipped to tackle difficult discussions?

Try out some tools, tips & techniques that can help you

tackle tough talks with more confidence and

turn the tables on poor performance

Outline below & on-line ~ Register on-line ~ Also In-house on request

What’s this about? Tackling poor performers is one of the most commonly avoided kinds of difficult discussion. It does have to be tackled eventually though, because poor individual performance can spread, destabilise the team and undermine the respect people have for you as a leader, if you keep steering clear of them all the time.

Some managers take a disciplinary approach to poor performance, delivering pre-formed judgments on perceived deficiencies or a bullet-proof list of charges relating to an infringement, with dates, times and facts to back it up. They see this as positively assertive. The person on the other end sees it as controlling and coercive.  They become defensive and strong emotions get in the way of hearing what’s being addressed, and the hope of getting anything resembling a positive outcome dwindles away.

Positive Performance Conversations works on a simple principle: focus on the positives you want to see, not the negatives you don’t. Focusing less on what's wrong and more on what’s expected creates a different emotional climate that enables difficult feedback to be given in constructive ways. It helps to keep defensiveness at bay so they hear what you have to say.

This 1-day coaching clinic gives you a step-by-step tour of carefully-crafted footings, frameworks and formulas to help deal with difficult performers more competently and comfortably and make hard performance conversations a little bit easier.

 “I wanted more positive outcomes and after attending this training on tools to conduct difficult performance conversations with staff, I feel better prepared. Very well presented, very informative and well-structured, focusing on critical frameworks to apply for better results.” Alex Burt, Mackay Regional Council

Organisations are packed with performance management guidelines and hand-books, yet there’s scant help on how to handle the real conversational side.  Done well, taking a positive approach to performance conversations can help people achieve goals, build skills and talent, align individual with organisational effort, keep on track and be motivated toward both better performance and personal growth.   In this very practical clinic you’ll learn how to:

·         Tackle tough performance conversations in more positive ways

·         Structure – your conversation better with our 5 Footings and Frameworks model

·         Start conversations on a firm but neutral footing

·         Deliver difficult feedback that is more ‘sayable’ and ‘hearable’

·         ‘De-vague’ – be more specific in the way you dissect performance issues

·         Handle defensiveness – anxiety and other high-pitched emotions

·         Anticipate – objections, excuses, justifications and downplays

·         Level – say what performance you need and why they need it too

·         Reframe – put negative performance issues across positively

·         Stay Focused – keep it on track, clear, frank and fact-based

·         Coach to find solutions – get commitment to goals and actions

“A comprehensive and engaging workshop. A very good program and useful toolkit to support skills in managing poor performance – have already recommended it to others as I feel much more confident to bring up performance issues after this course. Thanks, a great workshop." Lisa Baker, Qld Health

What you’ll gain from attending:  Take-away one of our much applauded 110 page self-coaching guides with lots of useful tips and 25 tools to manage difficult performance conversations better. Complete a Positive Performance Conversations Scorecard  to see how you handle difficult ones and develop your own personal game-plan to deal with difficult performance conversations more positively.

Dealing with Difficult Discussions

A unique 7-stage model with robust, easy-to-use tools to help you navigate through troublesome topics more confidently

and resolve differences constructively

CAIRNS MAY 15-16

Other Programs by The Change Forum ~ 2014 Course Calendar

Is this right for you? Positive Performance Conversations is for leaders at any level who want to improve the way they handle performance conversations – especially with difficult or poor performers. It’s particularly relevant for those who get anxious, irritated or defensive confronting poor performers or those who want to take a more constructive, solutions-focused approach.  While the focus is mainly on difficult performers, many principles and tools in this clinic can also be used to coach, support and encourage good performers too.

“A quality, ‘value for money’ day, well-prepared and presented, jam-packed with information and interaction and chances to reflect on practice. We were provided with an abundance of resources to use before, during and after which are greatly appreciated .” Alison Forster, St Mary’s Catholic College Cairns

REGISTER NOW On-Line, by Email or Fax…  

MATES Matter in MAY… Attend with a Friend for Less…

General (1-day clinic):  (Standard Fee $495)  Single $440…  2-places $858…

NFP/Schools: (Standard Fee $440) Single $396…  2-places $770…    

·         Prices include GST… Discount applies from date of registration

·         Payment on invoice within 14 days and prior to attendance

·         Venue: Watermark Hotel Brisbane, other CBD locations confirmed on registration

·         Inclusions: Lunch, refreshments and comprehensive self-coaching Guide

·         Timing: 8.30 am - 4.30 pm each day

Register on-line or use the form included in the course Brochure

For some background articles and tips on handling performance conversations, see our Conversational Coaching e-zine CC E-News Issue-13 – read on-line or download and share with colleagues and friends…

Look forward to seeing you at this one-of-a-kind clinic  – and please feel free to forward this message to other contacts you have in your region or networks who are interested in making conversations with difficult performers a little less tortuous for them and a little bit easier for themselves.  

Of course, if you don’t want further updates about our range of  professional development offerings, please see the remove-me option at the bottom of this email.

Cheers…

Bill Cropper

Director - The Change Forum

See our full Course Directory

for outlines of our current range of leadership & team learning programs

Call, Email or Enquire On-line

All Change Forum programs also available for delivery In-House.

Course FEE Includes

• Self-Coaching Toolkit

• Lunch & refreshments

VENUE Central location

REGISTER ON-LINE

or Phone, Fax or Email

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