Learn how to reduce miscommunications and unproductive conflict, and increase action and results, by creating shared understanding on complex and emotional issues.

Critical issues are like jig-saw puzzles. To solve the puzzle, and determine the right course of action, you have to gather up the pieces and fit them together. But the complexity, emotions, and urgency that accompany critical issues can make communications extremely difficult.

Gathering the puzzle pieces can be a challenge as they are often scattered across people and functions that have different goals, objectives and priorities. These differences, and the politics they create, often result in a great deal of addition, deletion, and distortion of information. This drives up emotions and defensiveness, making communications and understanding even more difficult.

In this webinar you will learn a process for creating shared understanding on complex and emotional issues. This process includes active listening to gather up the pieces of the puzzle. When you speak, you know what you know. But when you listen, you learn what everyone knows. This active listening process defines the information you need to get, and provides the tools you need to get it.

Communication and understanding are increased when people share their thoughts, opinions, perspectives and ideas clearly and credibly. People want you to say what you mean, and mean what you say. Therefore you will also learn how to clarify your thinking and present your ideas with clarity and credibility.

Learning Objectives:

1. To understand the major communications roadblocks to understanding others
2. How to minimize conflict and arguing when communicating with others
3. How to deal with strong feelings when they arise
4. The five pieces of information that make up individual perspectives
5. How to use active listening skills to quickly understand other peoples perspectives
6. How to clarify your perspective on critical issues before you speak
7. How to express your perspective clearly and with credibility
8. How to create shared understanding on complex and emotional issues

90 minutes (60 minute presentation, 30 minute open discussion)

Douglas Peters, President, DS Performance Group