AAPS PD Active Practice for Professionals: Developing Your Message for Difficult Conversations
Program Summary
One of the challenges members say they face in having a difficult conversation is deciding what to say. In this AAPS PD Active Practice session with Diane Ross, members will have the opportunity to spend time thinking (and writing and speaking) about what you want to say, developing your communications message, and planning for outcomes and reactions. You will have time to try out your message with other AAPS members, get feedback, and make revisions.
What is an Active Practice Workshop?
These sessions are designed to be active working sessions where you will be developing your conversation message, practicing it with colleagues, and receiving peer feedback. It’s an active session that requires your full participation and focus for the duration. For Zoom, we will be doing longer-format breakout rooms, and audio and video are required for this session.
If you are not comfortable with this kind of setup or can’t give your time and attention to the full session, please sign up for the recorded version instead.
Audience
This session is designed for members who are professionals need to influence without authority.
What Kind of Conversations Should I Bring?
We are encouraging members to bring a current conversation challenge, potential future challenge, or think of a conversation you have had in the past where you would like a “do-over.” These conversations should be up to mid-level workplace-related challenges or conversations that you find difficult, but perhaps others do not. More complex conversations or ones involving discrimination, harassment, triggering events, and trauma will not be in the scope of this session. You are instead encouraged to seek confidential guidance from AAPS.
If you have questions about the session, what topic you should bring, or have accessibility requirements, please let me know.
What You Will Learn
- Analysis of workplace personal and political factors that may impact your conversation and when to get help
- The ABC Framework for preparing messages
- How preparation and practice can help you refine your message and build your confidence
- Tips to manage your reactions and responses
How You Will Learn
- Self-reflection
- Reflection and assessment of your situation, context, and landscape
- Message drafting and refining
- Small group practice sessions
- Receiving feedback from your peers
- Large group discussions
Participant Expectations for the Live Zoom and In-person Sessions
- To attend the full session. People arriving late, leaving early, or dropping in and out negatively impacts the experience for everyone. We understand that emergencies happen, but if everyone starts out with a full commitment and focus for the duration of the session, it makes the experience so much better for everyone
- To actively participate in the activities, whether through reflection, writing, small group conversations, or large group discussions. (And using audio and video for online sessions)
- Be open and engaged with the content of the session, even if it doesn't immediately resonate with you. We encourage you to try things out and help us create a positive learning environment for all participants
- To be professional, kind, and courteous to fellow participants and to practice patience, confidentiality, and inclusivity
About Your Facilitator
Diane A. Ross is a lawyer turned certified executive coach, professional leadership mentor, facilitator, and author. For over 15 years, Diane has been designing professional development programs for leaders, individual contributors, and young professionals. She is a Gallup Certified Strengths Coach with extensive experience coaching individuals and organizations through strengths-based leadership development. Something clicked when she first did the CliftonStrengths® assessment, and she realized her strengths and purpose did not match her job as a litigation lawyer. She took a leap of faith in herself and her career and pivoted to coaching, teaching, and mentoring. Now she is lit up by helping others learn their strengths so they can also shine bright on the big stage called life.
About Your Host
AAPS is your labour relations organization representing the Management and Professional Staff group to your employer UBC. AAPS is a separate organization from the University, and your conversations with us are confidential. We offer members professional labour relations advice that is in your best interest as an employee. We encourage you to get to know AAPS and your Collective Agreement.
The AAPS Professional Development Program is designed and hosted by AAPS for our members. We offer a variety of topics on management, leadership, interpersonal skills, workplace skills, as well as personal and social development. The AAPS PD Program is designed in consultation with the AAPS Board of Directors and staff. Member Services Officer Sarah Muff is the program's architect and manager. She staffs the PD events. If you have ideas or feedback, please email Sarah at sarah.muff@ubc.ca.
Registration Information
The AAPS Professional Development program is designed for and offered exclusively to AAPS members at no cost. AAPS members can register to attend an in-person, live Zoom session, or access the recorded version. Before registering, please consider your schedule and your ability to actively participate.
The live Zoom sessions require you to use audio, and video is also strongly encouraged. For the in-person and live Zooms, your presence and focus are important for the structure of this session. If that doesn't work for your schedule this time around, no worries, there is always the recorded version.
If you have accessibility requirements or questions, please email aaps.pd@ubc.ca. Zoom auto-captions are always enabled for our sessions. Please let me know if you need a live transcriber, interpretation, or other specific audio or visual supports for in-person or Zoom sessions. If you have other accessibility requirements for in-person sessions or would like more information about the venue, I can also answer those questions.
In-Person at Point Grey Campus
Live on Zoom
A recorded version of this session will be available. You can sign up for access on our website.