Western NY- Unlocking Productive Dialogue: Strategies for HR Professionals in Managing Difficult Conversations

What makes a conversation difficult and why do 57% of people have a tendency to avoid them? This training will uncover the fundamentals of a difficult conversation including when it is time to have one and how to overcome some of the common challenges that arise. You will learn a framework to prepare for any difficult conversation, as well as research based best practices on when, where, and how to have that difficult conversation. While no one likes to have uncomfortable conversations they are necessary and can be extremely helpful in the workplace. After this training you will have the tools and confidence to both tackle difficult conversations and help coach managers and employees to do the same.

Learning Objectives

• Identify what makes a conversation a difficult one and when it is time to have it

• Identify common challenges and solutions to difficult conversations

• Learn a framework to prepare and deliver a difficult conversation

• Practice drafting a conversation using the STATE Method, "I" statements, and open-ended questions

• Learn productive ways to respond to various reactions that may arise

• Learn how to find resolutions to common workplace scenarios

Join us as we welcome our guest speaker Lindsay Zajac to discuss her perspectives on productive dialogue in the workplace and how managing difficult conversations can be done in everyday situations.

This program is approved by SHRM and HRCI for 1.5 recertification credit hours toward aPHR™, aPHRi™, PHR®, PHRca®, SPHR®, GPHR®, PHRi™ and SPHRi™recertification through HR Certification Institute® (HRCI®) or SHRM.

About our Speaker:

Lindsey Zajac

Lindsey A. Zajac is the VP of Talent Solutions at Career Partners International, Buffalo Niagara. In this role, Lindsey leverages her leadership development passion and expertise to help organizations develop and retain their employees, while improving their overall performance. For the past four years Lindsey served as a Principal with Ahern, Murphy & Associates, which is a leadership development firm based out of Syracuse, NY, started by her father, Tim Ahern. Prior to that, Lindsey spent fifteen years in corporate Human Resources roles in fast-paced organizations, including PepsiCo, Eaton Corporation, Saab Sensis, and Next Jump. Training and development, executive coaching, talent management, employee relations, and strategic planning are Lindsey’s areas of expertise. At PepsiCo, Lindsey was a Senior Human Resources Manager supporting the largest market in the country, Upstate NY. Lindsey co-led the quarterly Getting Started as a New Supervisor training for the entire Northeast Region, training close to one hundred new Supervisors each year. In addition, she helped develop new training content that was later incorporated into the Frontline Leader Excellence Training curriculum used by all Managers across PepsiCo nationwide. Lindsey is a proud recipient of PepsiCo’s most prestigious “You Excel” Award and multiple “Way to Go” Awards for delivering exceptional results. Lindsey obtained an Advanced Coaching Certification in Women’s Leadership as well as an Executive Leadership Certificate from Cornell University. Lindsey is an authorized Everything DiSC partner and uses the assessments to improve the leadership capabilities of her clients. Lindsey graduated cum laude from Providence College where she earned a BA in Political Science and a Minor in Women’s Studies. Lindsey is the immediate past President of the Buffalo Niagara Sales and Marketing Executives (BNSME), which is a networking and professional development organization where she has been a member since 2020. Lindsey is also a facilitator of the Leader Exchange program with the Buffalo Niagara Partnership. Lindsey resides in Williamsville with her husband John, two children, Delaina, and Drew, as well as the family dog, Theo.