Difficult and Crucial Conversations Reading Group

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 9:30 AM - Wed, 23 Oct 2024 10:30 AM

As academics, we regularly encounter conflict, whether it is in committee or department meeting, in research collaboration, in our interactions with beloved (or not) acerbic colleagues, or in the classroom. In these interactions, we can benefit from having tools at our disposal that help us navigate conflicts in a productive and collaborative manner.

This reading group will discuss two books that offer slightly different approaches to managing conflict and conflictual interactions: Stone et al.'s Difficult Conversations and Grenny et al.'s Crucial Conversations. Topics of conversation may include questions about how the two approaches differ from each other, how they can be applied to situations we've encountered, what we think might be their strengths and weaknesses, what we can learn for our own practice at work, and more.

The group will meet once a week for an hour on Zoom, for five weeks.

Dates & Time: Wednesdays on 9/18, 9/25, 10/2, 10/9, and 10/23 (9:30 - 10:30 AM)

Location: Online (The Zoom link will be provided either with the email registration confirmation or by email the day before the event.)

Facilitator: Andreas Broscheid, CFI & CAL

Genre: Faculty Learning Community

**Attendance & Registration Information**
Our programs are intended for JMU faculty or staff only! If you are a student or administrator and would like to attend, please email cfi@jmu.edu with your request. Refer to the CFI Programs & Events webpage for detailed information and an instructional video on how to use the registration portal!
LOG IN: If this is your first time visiting the registration page, your account will be created automatically when you sign in with your JMU e-ID and password (DUO required). Be sure to clear your browser cache/cookies upon each visit to the registration page. Complete your profile information: Update your college/division and department (use the search feature and/or select from the dropdown) and enter your Mail Stop Code (MSC) for your department on-campus mail. Add comments about your dietary & accommodation needs at the bottom of the profile form. (This information is collected and stored with your online account for all future programs you may attend.) Once your profile is complete, you should see a status update as complete on your Dashboard (an overview of your account).

Register by Monday, 9/16, at 11:59 PM.

**Cancellations**
If you find that you are unable to attend a scheduled event prior to the registration deadline, please return to your CFI Program Account and cancel your registration. If it is after the event registration deadline email cfi@jmu.edu as early as possible. CFI programs will be canceled automatically if JMU is closed for inclement weather. We want this program to be welcoming, accessible, and inclusive for all of our participants. Please describe any considerations or accommodations (e.g., dietary, disability, wellness, cultural, etc.) you want us to know about in your account profile. You may also reach out to us at cfi@jmu.edu or (540) 568-4846.