Registration open for the next in-person Conversations Worth Having for Library Leaders on June 7!
Conversations are at the heart of everything we do in libraries. They are key to effective communications, leadership, high performing teams, and strong relationships. We all know that they influence us, but we rarely stop to think about how much they affect our well-being and other as well as the health of our libraries and communities. Our conversations directly influence our present moment and possible futures. Are you having Conversations Worth Having?
Communication. It remains one of the top challenges for organizations, teams, and relationships. Almost everyone struggles with how to effectively communicate when they are frustrated or facing conflict. They show up in libraries as:
- Employee disengagement, malaise, and turnover
- Dysfunctional teams, boards or committees
- Inability to give and receive feedback
- Negative attitudes, cliques, and gossip; a culture of “me”
If you’re dealing with any of these outcomes, Conversations Worth Having (CWH) for Library Leaders will give you the skills and tools to turn them around. This course is grounded in Appreciative Inquiry, a widely used positive change approach. Two simple Appreciative Inquiry practices can spark meaningful connections, ignite creativity, and empower library leaders at any level to make a difference.
This highly experiential course is built upon Berrett Kohler’s bestseller, Conversations Worth Having: Using Appreciative Inquiry to Fuel Productive and Meaningful Engagement by Cheri Torres and Jackie Stavros (https://conversationsworthhaving.today/).
“CWH provided me with tools to improve my interactions with those at work and in my personal life. I have incorporated aspects of it from the very first session. It’s that easy and helpful. Other things will take practice, but it will be worth it. Using generative questions and appreciative inquiry made an immediate impact, especially in my work setting.”
Robin Crumrin, Dean of Library Servies at Cunningham Memorial Library, Indiana State University
Attendees to this series of online events will walk away prepared to:
- Keep your cool when you want to explode!
- Effectively challenge assumptions and preconceptions, including yours.
- Deal with conflict quickly and effectively.
- Fuel productive and meaningful engagement.
- Communicate successfully with people who hold negative attitudes or defensive positions.
- Give and receive critical feedback in ways that promote learning and high performance.
- Ask the kind of questions that deepen understanding, strengthen connections, and inspire possibility.
- Talk to colleagues in ways that invite them to collaborate on projects and strategic outcomes.
- Listen with genuine curiosity.
- Frame any conversation, even one around a highly complex problem, to inspire creative and innovative thinking.
What Else You’ll Get:
- Six hours of live, interactive instruction from Certified Trainers in Conversations Worth Having
- A bonus 90-minute virtual session on the AIR conversation framework, to put what you’ve learned into practice
- A manual, workbook journal, and book discussion guide
- Catered lunch and refreshments
- Participation in an ongoing Conversations Worth Having Community of Practice to continue honing your conversational skills
- OhioNet members will receive a 50% discount on registration
Learn more about this event, including recommended pre-reading pre-work on our event page. Questions? Reach out to our team by emailing [email protected]. We’re happy to help!
