When it comes to running workshops, I adopt a highly experiential approach. In every workshop there will be sharing of relevant tools & strategies and the opportunity for participants to reflect on and apply the new learning to a real-life challenge they are experiencing. I run full-day workshops on a variety of topics, such as ‘Coaching Conversations for Leaders’ and ‘Challenging Conversations for Leaders’.
Who I worked with:
In 2024 Flinders University engaged me to run a full-day Coaching Conversations for Leaders workshop. This workshop ran twice in 2024 – both programs were offered to Professional Staff leaders and there were approximately 15 participants in each group.
The challenge:
To provide Professional Staff leaders with new skills to grow and develop their people. To provide leaders with fundamental coaching skills and bring a coaching mindset to the way they relate to and lead other people.
The process:
A week prior to the workshop, participants were allocated some ‘light’ pre-work.
During the full-day workshop participants developed their coaching competency and practiced their new skills in a safe and supportive learning environment. They gained familiarity with coaching models and experienced coaching from both sides of the table, which is essential for understanding the importance of psychological safety and how to create it.
Post workshop readings and resources were provided to support learning.
The results:
By the end of this one-day workshop, participants were able to:
- Understand the difference between coaching conversations and other conversations they will have as a manager/leader.
- Identify when coaching is the right approach.
- Use a coaching approach to raise awareness and commitment to action.
- Appreciate what is required to set-up a conversation for success.
A sample of feedback is provided below:
“It’s something that has truly benefitted my headspace, particularly in how we acknowledge time as a resource, investing that time into our interactions and avoiding ‘false rescues’.”
“The fact that the approach has not been to jam more and more content into the sessions, but to give time to continuing the same thinking has been valuable in embedding the way of being as a coach. The whole approach has been respectful of what people bring.”
“I felt I came into these sessions with little knowledge about coaching and what it involves. It has been valuable for me as I feel I have developed some strategies around questioning and listening.”
“How the techniques we had been shown and encouraged to trial supported individuals to reflect on their thoughts, behaviours, and actions, helping them gain insight into themselves and their decision-making.”
Based on workshop outcomes, I have been engaged to run another two full-day workshops for Flinders University in 2025.