Staff lectured on speaking

There was a program run at Central Michigan University on
Friday, September 12, for staff members who have problems with
difficult conversations.  The lecture was given by Harley
Blake at Rowe Hall 229.
 
The program is run periodically throughout the course of the
year. 

“We all have conversations, whether that’s at home in family
situations or with friends, that are emotionally charged,”
Blake says.  This program is a way to get past those awkward
situations that always seem to present themselves at even the
most inopportune of times.

The program is based in part on a book of the same name.
“Difficult Conversations,” written by Douglas Stone, Bruce
Patton, and Sheila Heen, touches on some of the topics Blake
presents to staff.

“Basically, anything where there is tension in the
conversation,” Blake said of what he discusses when he meets
with the group.

The program has been very successful in the last year and a
half that it has existed.  Blake says this is the fifth or
sixth time he’s run the lecture because of the high demand it
receives in surveys. 

The surveys ask the respondent which situations they feel the
most uncomfortable in and would like help in correcting.
Overwhelmingly, relation type trainings such as help engaging
in conversation are in high demand.

“We’ve had a waiting list the last two times and that’s why we
keep bringing it back,” says Nate Holmes, an HR Assistant who
handles registration for the program.  The HR Department will
bring the program back as many times as needed based on demand.

HR expects anywhere between 25 to 30 staff members to attend
each meeting.