Navigating Difficult Conversations

Program Duration
2 WEEKS
Two Workshops
MAR 3 & MAR 17
FORMAT
Online Program
Time
9:00 - 11:00am PDT
Audience
Senior, Staff, Principal UX Designers
Design Managers
Design Directors
‍Design Program Managers
PRICE
$450 /program
Limited spots available.
Discuss Challenges
Analyze examples of common communication problems that arise in cross-functional teams and how to have a clear solution-focused conversation.
Assess Your Skills
Access a workbook and a self-assessment tool to better understand your strengths and identify breakdowns.
Create an Action Plan
Discuss strategies and techniques on how to lead effective communication based on trust and relationships.

Why this program?

We attempt or avoid difficult conversations every day-whether dealing with an underperforming employee, disagreeing with a team-member, or influencing cross-functional stakeholders.

Communicating seems easy but getting something done through other people requires you to continually refine this skill set. We get overwhelmed when we aren’t appropriately responding to requests. We can easily get frustrated when our communication isn't producing the results we want.

As a manager, learning to communicate more effectively with your team requires up-leveling your skills. We're creating a safe space for you to work on your skills, reflect on the key components of developing effective communication skills to influence change within your organization and beyond. We'll discuss ways to improve your skills to get commitments and drive the outcomes you want.

What we'll cover

  • Define attributes - Explore the attributes that contribute to becoming an effective communicator.
  • Self-assessment - What is your communication style? What is working? What needs improvement?
  • Difficult conversations - How to give feedback that lands with your listener. Start a practice of receiving feedback to build better relationships
  • Personal Growth - Create a holistic view of your communication skills. Identify your blind spots and opportunities to communicate more effectively.
  • Impactful collaboration -  Discuss strategies that can help you effectively coordinate with stakeholders and team members.
  • Reflect - Examine different communication approaches and techniques that influence change.

Meet Your Leadership Coach

Courtney Kaplan

Leadership Coach
Former Director of Design Program Management at Facebook

Courtney coaches leaders to build effective teams that generate results. She also works with individuals to create meaningful lives based on their values.

Prior, Courtney was an early leader in Design Operations at Facebook. As a former designer, Courtney founded the Design Program Management discipline at Facebook in 2013 to help operationalize the rapidly growing product design teams at Facebook. Her team pioneered how Design Operations could benefit technology companies.

Supporting a product org that grew tenfold during her time at Facebook, she learned to move quickly, drive impact and collaborate in a company that serves billions.

With over 20 years of people-centered problem solving, Courtney is passionate about designing and building effective teams.


RETHINK programs gave me great insight into the next steps of my career, as well as many resources to help carry me through the next few months. I feel like I left the program with exactly what I needed - a plan to upgrade my career over the next few years.

Carly Johnson
Sr. Product Designer, Apple

What you'll get

  • Access to 2 virtual workshops with interactive activities led by Courtney Kaplan.
  • A digital workbook to work on activities and help get clarity on your challenges.
  • Support to create a clear action plan for how to communicate with intention.
  • Access to our community discussion to ask questions and get support from other leaders.
GET YOUR TICKET

Create change in your organization and adapt your communication style  through your language, actions and embodiment of leadership.