PD: Listening to Connect (encore)

Program Summary

Most business and work communication trainings tend to focus on speaking, sharing, directing, or influencing others. The emphasis is on the expressive part of communicating: conveying, asserting, directing, managing. But the real advantage in communication skills comes through being a powerful listener, someone who has skills beyond the rudimentary of being able to recite back what was said. 

Strong listeners help others feel known, seen, respected--even in difference. It is our listening to deeply understand that earns relatability, trust, and credibility. Without these elements, how far can any of us take our relationships, whether at work or at home?

Just think of a time you felt listened to in a full and open way. Now contrast this with an experience of not feeling listened to, or only in a superficial manner. Notice how different the two experiences leave you feeling about yourself and the other person. 

What You Will Learn:

This session will help you to develop this capacity and strengthen your listening capabilities by:

• Learning the deep listening model so you have a framework to follow—a “how-to” listen more effectively to others in a way that promotes genuine understanding and connectedness.
• Identifying the listening barriers that come up in others and in ourselves and what to do to move past them.
• Learning how to remain calm and non-defensive while hearing someone’s views you do not agree with.
• Improve your ability to hear and identify what matters most to the other person in a conversation.
• Being more comfortable and skilled when others talk about feelings.
• Learn how to respond in a way that feels truly supportive to someone feeling stressed or distressed.

This session will primarily be emphasizing the internal experience of listening and what good listeners are doing in their minds, hearts, and bodies as we hear one another at work and in life. 

How You Will Learn (online):

• Zoom meeting platform
• Breakout room discussions
• Large discussions
• Third-party engagement tools
• Slides and theory bursts
• Self-reflection
• Please note this is a participatory session, if you do not wish to participate, please sign up for the recorded version instead

Participant Expectations

If you are participating in the live Zoom session please:

• Use audio and video throughout the session -- this is particularly important in this session as we practice the skill of listening
• Participate in the breakout rooms and group discussions
• Communicate technical and participation issues to Sarah through DM or email
• Let us know your accessibility requirement in advance by emailing aaps.pd@ubc.ca 
• Practice patience, inclusivity, and confidentiality with what you are sharing and what is shared in the session
• Be open to considering and trying the practices and processes during the session
• The live Zoom session will not be recorded

Audience 

This session is open to all AAPS members. For members who have taken this session before, some of the content has been updated, and you are invited to attend as a refresher. Not sure if this session is right for you? Please email aaps.pd@ubc.ca. 

About Your Facilitator

Alex is a senior psychotherapist and professional educator devoted to the question of how meaningful choices affect our health and wellbeing. 

A passionate clinician and speaker with over 25 years of experience in the field, Alex has been an instructor at many leading educational institutions, including SFU, UBC Robson Square, BCIT, City University, Vancouver Community College, and Mount Royal University. 

As an organizational consultant and educator on mental health issues, he has conducted training sessions for organizations throughout Western Canada on topics relating to mental health, trauma, and employee well-being, including extensive work with the Canadian Coast Guard, the RCMP and other first-responder groups, health-care and front-line social service agencies. 

He has also worked extensively with UBC and other organizations for many years; his specialized workshops on procrastination and perfectionism have been attended by well over 3,000 workshop attendees.

Alex lives and works in Port Moody, Greater Vancouver, where he runs a full-time clinical practice, providing depth-based individual and couple psychotherapy services.

About Your Host

AAPS is your professional association and labour relations organization. Along with our work negotiating your workplace terms and conditions and supporting you individually with employment contract-related questions and issues, we also aim to provide AAPS membership with educational opportunities through the AAPS Professional Development Program. 

The program is designed to give members a chance to connect with colleagues from different departments, units, and locations, share experiences, and support one another. The program also gives time and space to consider the evolution of the workplace and adapt to changing work environments and career needs. We host topics in areas such as management and leadership, interpersonal skills, workplace skills, personal development, advocacy, and organized labour. We use a mixture of in-person, live online, and asynchronous learning structures.

The AAPS PD Program is staffed by AAPS Member Services Officer for Professional Development, Sarah Muff. Sarah oversees the design, delivery, and administration of the program, as well as being the onsite program manager. She works in consultation with external facilitators, colleagues, and the AAPS Board of Directors to develop and adapt relevant workplace content to meet the needs of AAPS members.

Questions about this session, the program, or suggestions for future topics and facilitators? Please email aaps.pd@ubc.ca. 

Registration

These live and participatory Zoom sessions will run from 10:00am-12:00pm. Please ensure you are available to attend the full session and actively participate prior to registering for the live Zoom.

1. November 22, 2023: Perfectionism: A Way Forward: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAqdeihrTMrHd3Kxx8PnKRID9jJq748zm1w

2. November 29, 2023: Setting and Maintaining Healthy Boundaries: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUqcO-srz4iE9XbjEwLPljSoGmYxo4rpFG-

3. December 6, 2023:Listening to Connect: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMvcO6tqTosG9IdnHCCW5U07kPjqJuLQh9C

4. Register here for any of the recorded versions of this series