I'm a newbie and have recently been tasked with creating a course on soft skills - How to Have Difficult Conversations (geared towards managers). We actually have several more soft skills that need to be developed for managers and I'm pretty stumped.
I'm not really sure how to get started and how I should focus my research. Any experience or guidance is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!
It helps to view this as your OWN self-development to. You will enjoy it once you get started.
Have fun.
Thinking aloud - there are some times when managers have to have these planned (appraisals etc.) and unplanned (disputes (?) maybe branch down those 2 tracks?
Michelle, I'm a newbie too. I had an SME until he stopped answering my calls! He just upped and walked away. Anyhow it didn't stop me I just researched the topic (Asbestos Awareness) and carried on. My point is just research your topic, know your audience and the ideas will start flowing.
6 Replies
Hi Michelle
1. So-called "soft skills" are often the hardest!
By the way - you are about to become an SME in this topic. Remember to ad it to your Resume/CV once the course is completed...
2. Always on the search for an easy route...I would start by
https://www.google.co.uk/#q=How+to+Have+Difficult+Conversations&safe=off
3. The HBR has to be bought - but you can figure out a lot by looking at the COMMENTS. Try and see if you can get perhaps 5 points.
4. What audience are you talking about? If corporate, are you talking about appraisals (or whatever...).
You need to start by deciding on your scope, and what is out of scope, then try and write your "story", filling in the details afterwards.
That's how I approach this sort of thing anyhow.
Does that help to get you started?
Just spotted this - very useful: http://hbr.org/web/management-tip/tips-on-having-difficult-conversations
Thanks Bruce! Those are great tips and gives me so concrete focus. I'll get started today. This project has been looming over my head for months...
Great
Just shout if you need more.
It helps to view this as your OWN self-development to. You will enjoy it once you get started.
Have fun.
Thinking aloud - there are some times when managers have to have these planned (appraisals etc.) and unplanned (disputes (?) maybe branch down those 2 tracks?
Will do! Good ideas - thank goodness I'm not a supervisor myself.
I'll try to have fun...I have so much anxiety with these types of new projects. I just don't feel prepared, but I'll figure it out.
Michelle, I'm a newbie too. I had an SME until he stopped answering my calls! He just upped and walked away. Anyhow it didn't stop me I just researched the topic (Asbestos Awareness) and carried on. My point is just research your topic, know your audience and the ideas will start flowing.
I've heard great things about Susan Scott's "Fierce Conversations" - that may be a good book for this topic! Good luck
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