Cancelled -Difficult and Uncomfortable Conversations – James McTaggart

Difficult and uncomfortable conversations
Almost everyone needs to have a difficult conversation from time to time, be this with a parent, a young person, or a colleague. The conversation might be difficult because of its topic. Sometimes we have to break bad news, or tell someone about a decision they will not like. Or we need to help people see that things are worse than they thought or to process their part in something that has gone wrong.
Conversations can also be difficult because we care about the people involved and the subject we are talking about. We have to manage those feelings so that they help the conversation go better rather than get in the way. And difficult conversations are taxing and tiring – how can we prepare beforehand and recover afterwards?
This short course covers what we need to think about to help difficult conversations go as well as they can, how we can handle them if they go off the plan, and what we need to do this kind of work without costs to wellbeing or effectiveness. We look at an established model for difficult conversations, SPIKES, and how this can be modified for different circumstances.
The session has two parts. The first hour is a mix of input and discussion to explore the principles. The last half hour is for anyone who wants to stay on and work through any particular aspect or upcoming conversation in a more practical way (but no role play!). Bring you own scenario.

What can I expect from this training?
By the end of this training, staff should have:
• Insight into their own and other people’s needs in difficult conversations
• Tools for planning each stage, including the setting, giving information, managing emotions and summarising
• Familiarity with SPIKES, an evidence-based tool for difficult conversations
• Opportunity to reflect on applications in their own setting and work