Training for

Managers
& their Teams

Developing Presence, Resilience, and Collaboration

Unlike most manager training courses focused on communication and collaboration, Breakthrough Conversations are grounded in fostering a paradigm shift in self-regulation.  When managers learn simple techniques to observe and manage their own emotional states the quality of listening and collaborative problem-solving is radically enhanced. 

Our core training for managers consists of a two‑day programme together with a personal coaching session for each participant. We also tailor our programme to the specific needs and availability of a team, or place our training into the context of a larger development programme.

We focus on two key steps to developing collaboration skills

Many manager trainings focus on specific communication skills, such as the quality of listening and inquiring, to improve collaboration. We believe these skills are useful, but insufficient to foster sustainable and significant improvements in shared problem-solving.  By coupling communication skills practice with a profound approach to deepening presence, managers approach interactions with less defensiveness and more curiosity.  Combining these two aspects in our training opens the door to collaboration and win-win solutions.

Developing Presence

  • Learn techniques for observing one’s own state.
  • Recognise different conversational states – reactive, habitual and reflective and the impact of those on collaboration.
  • Practice cultivating states that support collaboration.

Skillful Conversation

  • Develop ‘Dual Awareness’ to observe emotional states whilst addressing real issues.
  • Experience the power of shifting to a ‘Green’ reflective, emotional state.
  • Apply this approach in role and reflect on how to embed learning.

Developing Presence and Collaboration

for Managers

1-1 coaching session and 2 days of group training

Our manager training consists of two single day sessions spaced across a three-week period. The time between the two days is an opportunity for managers to apply the learning from the first day, and then to reflect and get feedback on the application of these approaches during the second day. Each participant also receives an individual coaching session in order to experience the power of the approach first hand.

Coaching

  • 1-1 sessions for each delegate in advance of the group sessions.
  • Supports delegates to experience a shift in state in preparation for the group training days.
  • Delegates prepare for group sessions.

Day 1

  • The four purposes of conversation.
  • Limiting and enabling conversation skills.
  • The neuroscience of conversation.
  • The three conversational states.
  • Identifying practice opportunities.

Day 2

  • Review of practice.
  • Distinguishing three relational positions.
  • Core needs underlying emotions.
  • Practicing the skills with colleagues.
  • Translating learning to foster collaboration and creativity.

In addition to the coaching and group days, we encourage participants to engage in short reflective and journaling practices to deepen self-awareness. These practices are provided as audio files offering guided reflections. Training combines faculty-led sessions, facilitated demonstrations, videos, and skills practice. We see the experiential aspects of the course as the most important, and so participants are encouraged to be constantly considering how to apply the approach to their real-life challenges.

In this training managers will learn to:

  • Recognise the difference between three conversational states: RED, AMBER, and GREEN, and the underpinning of these in neuroscience.
  • Distinguish four types of conversation and the steps required to make conversations mutually collaborative and productive.
  • Observe their own emotional states as a basis for fostering self-regulation.
  • Enhance their self-awareness and presence, especially when preparing for, or engaging in, difficult conversations.
  • Identify their own conversational patterns, and to discern when they are limiting or enabling to shared outcomes.
  • Explore the underlying blocks to collaboration to clear the way for mutual understanding.
  • Apply the techniques learned on the training to real-life conversational challenges. 

I really like the RED, AMBER, GREEN model. I find myself noticing my RED states and realising I need to calm myself before answering an annoying email or confronting a colleague.

Helpfully practical and useful in terms of my day-to-day interactions.

Doing this training has improved our collaboration.  We seem to listen to each other more and have shaped a really useful new approach in one of our problem areas

Interestingly, I have found the emphasis on pausing and reflecting as helpful at home as at work.

I like the emphasis on neuroscience.  It gives the approach credibility and has helped me introduce some of the ideas to my team.

Please contact us to learn more about this training programme.

Manager Coaching Enquiry

Whatever your prior experience our training will enhance your capacity for shared creativity and collaboration