Facing the Facts
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Difficult conversations and disagreements are a normal part of life at work, at home, and in our communities. The problem isn't that we disagree. It's what happens when important conversations are avoided, delayed, or mishandled.
Small misunderstandings can grow into frustration. Frustration can damage trust and relationships. And disagreements that could have been worked through can become bigger conflicts.
Less than half of managers worldwide report receiving formal management training.
'Unresolved conflict doesn’t disappear; it spreads — fueling negativity, draining energy, and damaging relationships. But when leaders learn to turn conflict into connections, they ignite ripples of trust, teamwork, and civility that strengthen entire communities."
- Gallup
2 in 3 employees say they experienced or witnessed incivility at work in the past month
- Society of Human Resource Management
Avoidance is Costly
Many leaders stay silent, hoping conflict will resolve itself. But avoidance sends the message that incivility is acceptable, allowing small tensions to grow into serious problems.
Conflict is Escalating
Research shows rising workplace burnout, declining trust in institutions, and increased polarization. Local governments, businesses, and nonprofits are paying the price in turnover, disengagement, strained relationships, and a surge in mental health challenges among employees, young adults, and children.
U.S organizations lose $2 billion per day in reduced productivity and absenteeism tied to incivility.
TIME & MONEY
- Society of Human Resource Management
“Cultivating civility is not just a value—it’s a strategic choice that drives innovation, enhances collaboration, and ultimately builds a better world for all."
Emily Dickens, Chief of Staff, SHRM
Our Solution... Positive Conversation Training!
Resolving Conflict is a Skill and Everyone Can Get Better With Practice.
Positive Conversations Training Goes Beyond Education.
Group training helps participants learn and practice a positive process for working through disagreements, finding common ground, creating better solutions and strengthening relationships.
One-on-one training provides additional opportunities to practice those skills through role-plays, receiving feedback, and preparing for difficult conversations in the future.
Our goal isn't just to help you learn about a better way to resolve conflict.
It's to get better at resolving conflict...one positive conversation at a time.
Interactive Training – A fast-paced, interactive workshop where leaders learn new skills and practice resolving conflict, building trust, and leading positive conversations that bring out the best in everyone.
Positive Conversations Practice - Optional just in time coaching sessions give leaders the chance to apply what they’ve learned, build new habits, and gain feedback when they prepare and practice for a real conversations they want to have in the next few weeks.
POSITIVE CONVERSATIONS CREATE POSITIVE RESULTS
Are you trying to create positive change in your workplace? Do you want to engage, influence and encourage a diverse group of individuals to enjoy working as ONE, healthy high performance team? Do you want your leaders and teams to get better at having difficult conversations? If your answer is yes to any of those questions, you've come to the right place.
Whether you're a leader in local government, a corporation, or a non-profit organization, your success or failure will be based on your ability to draw out the best in everyone around you.
Work and life are team sports that require leaders at every level to inspire individuals and groups to consistently perform at their best. Nothing you'll ever do as a leader will be more important or meaningful than helping talented people excel while working together to accomplish a worthy goal.
Fortunately, all organizations have positive people who want to be part of a winning team that’s thriving, not just surviving during times of uncertainty and change. These employees want a positive, strength-based organization that encourages everyone to use their unique strengths to accomplish a mission that matters. Employees of all ages want to put away their personal differences, reduce negativity, and work together to add more value to those they choose to serve. What these talented team members need more than anything else are more positive leaders who can:
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Bring out the best in everyone around them
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Have a positive impact on employee engagement and wellbeing when having difficult conversations
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Influence and inspire all individuals to develop their unique strengths so they can serve and thrive as ONE, healthy high-performance team
All Bill Durkin's Speeches, Leadership Training, and Coaching is customized to help leaders achieve those objectives.