Conversations Worth Having for Library Employees (at any level) 

Description

Conversations shape our libraries, teams, and communities and influence our well-being, relationships, and future possibilities. Yet communication remains one of the top challenges for organizations, teams and relationships — especially when frustration or conflict arises.

This can show up in libraries as:

• Employee disengagement
• 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, Conversations Worth Having for Library Employees will give you the skills and tools to turn them around. You will learn and practice how to spark meaningful connections, ignite creativity, and empower library employees at all level to make a difference.

This 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/.

Course Outcomes

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 manual, workbook journal, and book discussion guide
• Catered lunch and refreshments

Course Modules In-Person, Wednesday, May 14, 2025, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 550 Polaris Pkwy, Westerville, OH 43082

Module 1 The Power of Conversation: Understand the nature of our conversations, how they affect human being and doing, and develop your ability to choose.

Module 2 The Art of Asking Questions: Understand the basics of Appreciative Inquiry and improve your ability to ask generative questions to foster effective communication.

Module 3 Intentional Framing: Use positive framing to intentionally foster effective communication and continue to develop your ability to ask generative questions.

Module 4 Step up to Feedback: Develop the skill and the motivation to routinely seek out feedback and promptly provide effective feedback, even in the most critical of situations.

Pre-reading: It is recommended that participants read the book “Conversations Worth Having: Using Appreciative Inquiry to Fuel Productive and Meaningful Engagement” by Jacqueline Stavros and Cheri Torres prior to attending this event. This book is available for purchase from your favorite book seller or to borrow from your local library.

Pre-work: Please complete this short pre-course questionnaire by April 30, 2025: https://forms.gle/dGQ6YfY6tNKkwKZE9