Carefully crafted footings, frameworks & formulas to make conversations with difficult performers easier...
presented by
Bill Cropper
- BRISBANE
- HERVEY BAY
- TOWNSVILLE
- June 22
- July 2
- Aug 27
- TOOWOOMBA
- ROCKHAMPTON
- CAIRNS
- July 1
- Aug 25
- Nov 8
- COVID-safe precautions observed at live venues -
Or choose our Live-ONLINE alternative...
3 x 2.5 hr morning Sessions –
July 28, 2 & 9
10.00 am – 12.30 noon AEST each day
3 sequential Sessions online cover same content as 1-day workshop
** Warm-up to Winter... pay less when you register by June 30 **
Make a positive difference next time you talk performance
Dealing with poor performance, as most leaders will tell you, is one of the most commonly avoided and widely feared species of difficult discussions.
It’s not identifying performance issues that’s the obstacle. It’s raising defensiveness – giving difficult feedback to people where their reaction is emotionally volatile, and the conversational course you chart, unpredictable.
Defensiveness is an unnerving side-effect of difficult discussions. Conventional performance conversations centre on ‘constructive criticism’ but criticism is criticism. The person on the other end won’t see it as constructive no matter how much we tell them it is.
Many managers deliver pre-formed judgements on people’s performance deficiencies. We see this as positively assertive; they see it as controlling and coercive. They’re unlikely to open up, and far more likely to get defensive, triggering strong emotions that get in the way of hearing what you have to say, and the hope of getting a positive outcome evaporates.
Dealing with poor performance, as most leaders will tell you, is one of the most commonly avoided and widely feared species of difficult discussions. It’s not identifying performance issues that’s the obstacle. It’s raising defensiveness – giving difficult feedback to people where their reaction is emotionally volatile, and the conversational course you chart, unpredictable.
Defensiveness is an unnerving side-effect of difficult discussions. Conventional performance conversations centre on ‘constructive criticism’ but criticism is criticism. The person on the other end won’t see it as constructive no matter how much we tell them it is.
Many managers deliver pre-formed judgements on people’s performance deficiencies. We see this as positively assertive; they see it as controlling and coercive. They’re unlikely to open up, and far more likely to get defensive, triggering strong emotions that get in the way of hearing what you have to say, and the hope of getting a positive outcome evaporates.
Do you want to...
- Feel more confident and competent in performance conversations?
- Use them to guide, coach, build relations, encourage and harvest human potential?
- Make performance conversations richer - not just tick and flick?
- Deliver performance feedback in more positive ways?
- Handle performance discussions that can get a bit uncomfortable?
- Gain new skills/tools to prepare, plan & manage your performance discussions better?
Positive performance conversations – constructive confrontation
Positive performance conversations work on a simple principle: focus on future positive performance rather than past negatives. Focusing less on what’s wrong and more on what’s expected creates a different emotional climate that enables you to give difficult feedback in constructive ways. It helps to keep their dignity intact and their defensiveness at bay so they hear what you have to say.
Bypassing performance deficiencies and defensive reactions by describing the negative behaviour in positive terms, allows people to respond more positively and focus on the solution-finding and commitment conversation – the goal of giving critical feedback in the first place.
Conversations with low performers will probably never be painless, but a few easy adjustments like this can make them less painful and more profitable to all parties.
That’s where Positive Performance Conversations comes in...
Whether you’re dealing with performers who are great, good or troubling, the principles and tools in Positive Performance Conversations can help you plan and prepare so you feel more confident to engage in talks that can be more meaningful and enriching. This 1-day practice-based program provides a step-by-step approach and carefully-curated conversational formulas to:
- Stay on the positive, encouraging side of performance conversations
- Use SPECIFIC steps to structure a positive performance conversation
- Use non-judgmental, neutral language without diluting difficult messages
- Handle confrontations with poor or difficult performers more constructively
- Turn performance conversations into problem-solving/coaching sessions
Whether you’re dealing with performers who are great, good or troubling, the principles and tools in Positive Performance Conversations can help you plan and prepare so you feel more confident to engage in talks that can be more meaningful and enriching. This 1-day practice-based program provides a step-by-step approach and carefully-curated conversational formulas to:
- Stay on the positive, encouraging side of performance conversations
- Use SPECIFIC steps to structure a positive performance conversation
- Use non-judgmental, neutral language without diluting difficult messages
- Handle confrontations with poor or difficult performers more constructively
- Turn performance conversations into problem-solving/coaching sessions
“I found this program very worthwhile to make my approach to performance conversations as positive as possible, build confidence and be more comfortable providing difficult feedback. I gained valuable tools and information that was relevant and useful. Bill’s delivery was fantastic. He has a wealth of knowledge and was both interesting and engaging. I’d actually attend this session again and definitely encourage others to.”
Nicky Greig
Mental Health Coordinator - Centacare
Focus on positives you want to see, not the negatives you don’t.
Many of us are in the habit of describing performance gaps in negative ways – what they failed to do or what’s lacking – rather than help them vividly picture what a great performance looks like. Do you know? If you do, then practise putting it positively. It keeps their dignity intact and they learn what you expect of them, as opposed to what’s wrong with them.
This unique master class shows you how to handle a variety of performance conversations with more confidence while making them more productive for everyone. We take you on a step-by-step tour of carefully-crafted footings, frameworks and formulas that will help you take the heat out – for you and them – and turn tough performance talks into constructive coaching conversations.
With plenty of practise opportunities in a safe and supportive setting, you’ll learn how to:
Tackle Tough Talks
Tackle tough performance talks in more positive ways
Apply Tools & Guidelines
Use 5 footings and frameworks to structure the conversations
Deliver Feedback better
Deliver difficult feedback that is more 'sayable' and 'hearable'
Use the Right Language
Use neutral language without diluting difficult messages
Maintain Positivity
Stay on the positive side of negative performance talks
Convert Conversations
Turn difficult performance conversations into mutual problem-solving and coaching sessions
“A very comprehensive, engaging workshop and the toolkit-to-go very useful. I wanted to gain additional skills in managing poor performance and supporting well-performing staff to stay motivated and this was a very good program to support this. I’ve already recommended it to a couple of people and I feel much more confident to bring up performance issues after doing this course.”
Lisa B.
Rural & Community Health
Some highlights to expect from attending this highly interactive hands-on clinic:
Develop your own personal game-plan to deal with difficult performance conversations more positively
Complete a scorecard on Positive Performance Conversations to see how you handle difficult ones
Apply our 5 Footings and Foundations model to structure your performance conversations
100 page self-coaching guide including 25 tools to better manage difficult performance conversations
Positive Performance Conversations Toolkit
complimentary when attending our clinic
Take-away a 120 page self-coaching guide with lots of useful tips and 25 tools to better manage difficult performance conversations.
“Practical and empowering, as instead of focussing on punitive outcomes, there were real steps demonstrated that lead towards building performance”
Trish K. – University of Southern Queensland
“I highly recommend this clinic. It’s important for anyone who supervises other staff to be skilled in positive conversation techniques. The guide is super with lots of tools for future reference. Being properly prepared for performance conversations will reduce stress for managers and staff, improve outcomes and reduce staff turnover.”
Sonia Roberts
Financial Operations, Queensland Health
Keen to make your next difficult performance conversation a more positive and engaging experience?
Is this clinic right for you?
This practical program is for leaders at any level who want to improve the way they handle performance conversations – especially with difficult or poor performers. It’s particularly relevant for those who get anxious, irritated or defensive confronting poor performers or want to take a more constructive, solutions-focused approach. While the focus is mainly on difficult performers, many principles and tools in Positive Performance Conversations can also be used to coach, support and encourage good performers too.
Sound reasons to choose a Change Forum clinic
- Interactive, engaging learning in a safe small group setting
- Relevant and relatable to your real workplace challenges
- Contemporary concepts - practical steps and models to follow
- Personal self-assessment score-cards to facilitate goal-setting
- Down-to-earth, hands-on activities, tools and topics tailored for you
- Comprehensive self-coaching toolkits for back-at-work action
- 10% discount on a second learning program attended within 12 months
- Fee-free transfers if unforeseen personal events prevent attendance
Personalised Coaching extension?
When you reserve a place on one of our live on-location or online programs, why not consider adding a personalised coaching extension to consolidate your learning, tools practice or applications back at work? From a single 2-hour follow-up session to a series of them. If you decide, before the end of your learning session/s, to add-on personal coaching as an extension to this program, we're currently offering a reduced coaching rate for your first phone or video coaching session of just $110 per hour (half our regular rate). Find out more about our individualised coaching services...
OPTIONAL ADD-ON
Your Facilitator - a Brief Profile...
Bill Cropper
Founder - The Change Forum
“Many leaders tell me they avoid and even fear performance conversations. Why do so many of us steer clear or stall when it comes to them? There’s many reasons. For a start, most people don’t want the ‘strain-and-drain’ of having to deal with performance issues – difficult or otherwise. It’s seen as time-wasting for both managers and staff, who feel their time is better spent on ‘more important things’. Second, even with good performers, we may still touch on sensitivities or have to give negative feedback which most of us don’t like. But the number one barrier is fear of triggering defensive reactions that make conversation uncomfortable.
Whether performers are difficult or diligent, the tools I explore in our Positive Performance Conversations clinic and the comprehensive self-coaching guidebook that accompanies it, can help you learn simple and effective verbal formulas to deliver touchy feedback in more positive, encouraging ways that lessen defensiveness and potentially turn performance discussions into coaching conversations.”
Bill is principal consultant and founding director of The Change Forum. He has a wealth of practical experience in conversational coaching, social and emotional intelligence, strategic change, cultural reconstruction, teamworking, group facilitation and leadership learning at all levels from senior executives to team leaders. His work centres on helping workplaces build the capacities they need to create constructive, connective cultures and more vibrant, productive, high-performing teams.
Over the last 10 years, he’s delivered scores of Positive Performance Conversations programs publicly and in-house for a wide range of organisations including health, education, housing, justice, environment, roads, construction and community services. He also runs a version for staff called Making Performance Conversations Work For You.
Positive Performance Conversations springs from Bill’s 15 plus years running Conversational Coaching and Dealing with Difficult Discussions programs while also coaching leaders to handle hard talks and constructively confront challenging performance. And it harks back to research and consulting work he did on positive team performance management for The Australian Productivity Council.
Bill’s been a preferred learning, change and leadership provider for many federal, state and local government agencies and is known for his practical, engaging and interactive style of facilitating. He also creates his own models and frameworks that keynote his programs and produces his own down-to-earth self-coaching guides, toolkits and workbooks to accompany his programs.
“Thank you Bill for delivering a tangible and engaging program that was timely, relevant and extremely practical. You demonstrated real steps for building performance with good visual examples, clear explanations and tools-practice activities that all helped my learning.”
Trish Keane - Support Coordinator USQ
“I've never been to a training where I was so engaged the whole day. Bill knew exactly what he was talking about and didn’t use fancy words I couldn't understand. I felt comfortable and safe. Bill’s brilliant at what he does. His style, methods and approach were great.”
Aleesha Johnston - Qld Courts Service
“I really appreciated Bill's flexibility. We were able to ask questions and he’d willingly change direction based on the needs of the group rather than stick to a set plan. The guidebook he wrote for the course is brilliant. It has so much information and will be a huge help for me for a long time to come.”
Helen M - Teaching & Learning Coordinator
“Bill engaged all participants, answered all questions and kept everyone interested. As always Bill, you ensured all participants were involved. Relaxing, enjoyable and we all had a few laughs.”
Luke R.- Recruitment Qld Health
Would you like all your leaders to update conversation skills together?
Run Positive Performance Conversations in-house at your place and save...
If public dates or locations don’t suit, you have 10 or more people interested in attending, or you want to run something more tailored to your team or unit, an on-site clinic may be more economical and a better fit your cultural context or team-working challenges. Call Bill Cropper on 0429-687 513 to discuss and send us an outline of your needs…
Cost & Registration
Subscribe for special offers & access to additional resources
...Ask about discounts for 4 or more...
Warm-up for Winter... Pay Less when you register by June 30
Full Fee 1-day Clinic
-
$660
Register Early & Save
General 1-Day Clinic
-
$572
NFP & Schools
-
$528
Note: Ask about group discounts for 4 or more
We recommend In-House clinics for 10 or more
Live-Online Sessions
-
$462
Coaching Extension (Optional)
-
$220
Register Online
(Or download registration form to email back)
The fine print...
- Prices include GST… Discounts apply up to 14 days prior to event or as otherwise published
- Payment due on registration - pay by card or EFT
- Pay online or on invoice within 10 days and prior to attendance
- Fees are non-refundable^ but may be transferred to an alternative event up to 10 days prior
- Small group sizes 6-10 to optimise learning outcomes
- Minimum numbers required at The Change Forum’s discretion
- Registrants are added to our mailing list but can unsubscribe any time after the event
- Venue: CBD or centrally located venues confirmed on registration
- Inclusions: Tuition, self-coaching Guide, eCertificate & for in-person events: Lunch/refreshments
- Timing: On-location: 8.30am-4.45pm AEST (arrive 15 mins prior)
- Timing: Online: 9.30am-12noon AEST (login 10 mins prior)
^Please Note: Covid-aware practices will be observed at live workshop venues. Please do not attend if you are sick or need to self-isolate. If you cannot send someone else along in your place and a course transfer is not feasible, a refund will be provided.
Coaching Better Leaders... Building Better Teams
Enquiries: Bill Cropper 0429 687 513
The Change Forum offers a variety of 1 and 2-day coaching clinics in selected regional centres.
Visit our on-line Course Calendar from time-to-time for updates on what’s coming up next
We offer individual Leadership Coaching in person & by phone
Our full range of Leadership learning & Team-building programs can be delivered in-house on request
Contact us any time for a chat about ways we might be able to help you
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Enquiries:
Mob:
Office:
Email:
BILL CROPPER
0429 687 513
0429 687 591 or 07 4068 7591
consult@thechangeforum.com
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