Vital Conversations

Leaders are regularly faced with having to have critical or tough conversations with their employees, teams, colleagues and supervisors. They are sometimes difficult to have and are oftentimes even harder to start. Managers know they need to have them, but the stakes can be high, and sometimes they don’t go as anticipated, hoped or intended. As a result, many managers avoid having them altogether.

Avoiding tough conversations or having ineffective conversations has an impact on employee morale, employee engagement, productivity, and a leader’s ability to be successful.

Critical or “vital” conversations are candid, goal-focused and feedback-rich conversations. They have the power to increase productivity; identify and build solutions based on shared objectives; broaden perspectives and mutual understanding; and foster positive engagement. They form the foundation upon which strong relationships are forged and collaborative teams are built.

This course will help participants change their outlook on having tough conversations by offering models, tools, tips and in-class practice to increase participants’ ability and confidence to conduct vital conversations effectively. Common pitfalls and barriers, which can derail vital conversations, will also be discussed.

This course is a practical, hands-on program. Participants will:

• Complete a TAIS Report – highlighting personal strengths and identifying one or two targeted areas which will enhance ability to influence and engage others and achieve results;
• Practice time proven methods to give feedback without raising defensiveness;
• Increase understanding of the difference between your Intention and Impact;
• Apply a Coaching model of conversation – establishing clear goals, process and attitude for success;
• Recognise how a little focused preparation goes a long way to ensuring desired outcomes.

NOTE: You do not need to have direct reports or a certain level of title to benefit from this course.

Program Faculty

Jenny Howe

Jenny is a highly skilled Executive Coach and Facilitator who has for the past 20 years specialized in working with leaders at all levels in an organization to fully develop their potential in areas of transformational leadership, effective communication, strategic envisioning, succession planning and resilience.

For six years, Jenny held the position of Head Coach at the Niagara Institute. She is a Senior Associate Coach with Performance Coaching and works in the Executive Leadership Program at Smith School of Business at Queen’s, she is also an Associate Coach at CCL and leads programs at DeGroote School of Business. She has worked with many C Suite Leaders as they achieve powerful results, both on a professional and personal level. Jenny has recently completed a Master’s Degree in Global Change Leadership at Oxford University’s Said School of Business and at the international business school, HEC Paris.

Jenny has worked across a variety of industries and sectors including entrepreneurial start-ups, utilities, banking, higher education, healthcare, advancement and professional services firms. Jenny works well with individuals at all levels throughout an organization. She particularly enjoys working with people transitioning to new roles and expanded levels of responsibility. In doing so she works as a thought partner to challenge and support her clients as they expand their current abilities, create new options, build buy-in and achieve exceptional results.

Recent projects have included:
• Coaching senior executives as they develop effective change leadership strategies, build buy-in and effectively translate vision statements into executable goals and objectives.
• Facilitating the development and roll out of internal coaching and mentoring programs. These programs leverage a broad base of organizational expertise to support succession planning, retention of top talent and facilitate cross functional learning and collaboration.
• Working with managers and executives to identify and support effective strategies as they step up to new roles of expanded scope and responsibility.
• Design and facilitation of Resilience for Results programs, which enhance both individual and team resilience and performance.

As an ICF accredited coach and recipient of the Prism award for excellence in coaching, Jenny’s approach reflects her passion for people, lifelong learning and humour. Her style is both warm and candid – seeking to highlight key insights which support immediate pragmatic actions. She complements all she does with her own commitment to ongoing personal development and is a keen lifelong learner.