Communicating without Conflict - WICT Carolinas

Imagine if we all agreed on everything. Imagination and new ideas would stall. We'd all accept the status quo. In an organization or team, productive disagreement has the ability to propel organizations forward. Yet often disagreement can be seen as confrontation and things can stall before they even start. Executive Coach Luci Rainey will give your audience the language to lead with easier conversation and less confrontation, along with key tools to stay on the right side of that line.

Key topics:

• Why smart people go quiet or go too far
• The words that keep hard conversations productive
• Vote vs. voice and why the distinction matters
• Choosing the right communication channel before conflict start

This workshop will address the following areas:

Communication Style & Perception -

• Why do two people in the same meeting walk out with completely different takeaways?
• How do you communicate with someone whose style is the opposite of yours

Disagreement & Conflict -

• What's the fastest way to de-escalate a conversation that's starting to tip into confrontation?
• How do you disagree with someone more senior than you without it feeling risky?
• What do you do when someone shuts down and goes quiet in a meeting?

Language & In-the-Moment Tools -

• What are the most common phrases that unintentionally shut people down?
• What's one phrase anyone can use tomorrow to keep a difficult conversation productive?

Decision-Making & Structure -

• How do you handle someone who keeps re-litigating a decision after it's been made?
• When should a leader clarify vote vs. voice upfront — and how do they do it without it feeling heavy-handed?