Overview of this session

In research like in any other work environments, you will at times need to have a conversation with your manager, a colleague or a student you supervise, to solve an issue or grievance. Without a conversation, the difficulties you are facing won't get resolved and it is important to address issues constructively as soon as possible, both for your wellbeing and the progress of your work. It is easier said than done though! Such conversations can feel challenging for a number of reasons and it may be tempting to ignore the issue or delay dealing with it instead... This session will provide you with concepts, tools and practice to prepare for and have challenging conversations without damaging your working relationships and to enable you and your colleagues to find solutions and understanding that help you move forward in a constructive way. It will also cover how to receive feedback in a useful manner.

This interactive workshop will be a combination of theory and practice and participants will have the opportunity to explore techniques for having difficult conversations through a peer coaching exercise. 

This session was developed based on a suggestion from postdoc representatives.

Programme Objectives