School of Biological and Marine Sciences: Difficult Conversations and Psychological Safety Workshop

Designed to support staff to improve their abilities in communicating difficult messages

This workshop was designed to support staff to improve their abilities in communicating difficult messages. The workshop explored different methods of relaying information considering the message and the individuals involved. The key aim was to ensure participants have the confidence, knowledge, and skills to do this effectively. Scenarios were played out by actors for participants to discuss, analyse and reframe the behaviours for more effective impact.
In order for these conversations to take place, our culture needs to support staff to do this. Psychological safety is a shared belief that it is okay to take risks, to express their ideas and concerns, to speak up with questions, and to admit mistakes – all without fear of negative consequences. The second part of the workshop explored what we need from processes and from each other to achieve psychological safety.
This workshop was organised following staff feedback from the SoBMS EDI Workshop in December 2023. We were delighted to welcome back Emma Brown and the Leadership Forum Theatre in June 2024 who delivered this workshop with the Faculty EDI Administrator, Emily Bradley .
This workshop is another stepping stone on our journey to be more inclusive and to improve ourselves, our school and our university.

Training about Difficult Conversations is often thought of only in the context of management. In fact, difficult conversations take place for most of us fairly frequently when we attempt to communicate perspectives and feelings that we believe others will reject or take offence at. Yet these conversations need to take place and having them improves relations, workplaces, and general wellbeing. We all have an obligation to make sure our workplace is one where different opinions can be expressed and where we can speak out when we think something is wrong. This workshop was a small step in ensuring we all feel safe in speaking out and having those difficult conversations.

Richard PreziosiProfessor Richard Preziosi
Head of School

 
 

Key aims

  • @Identify the best method of communicating for the topic

  • @Prepare and structure effectively to communicate a difficult message

  • @Use techniques to overcome personal barriers to have difficult conversations

  • @Manage awkward behaviours and difficult personalities

  • @Facilitate effective communication sessions

  • @Identify ways we can create a psychological safe environment in SoBMS to enable people to speak up and have difficult conversations

 
 

Feedback

We have received fantastic verbal feedback from staff, and 12 attendees and 1 facilitator completed the survey – the feedback was overwhelmingly positive.
  • 100% agree the workshop was well organised and communicated to staff.
  • 100% agree the workshop was interesting and engaging (85% strongly agree).
  • 100% strongly agree that the forum theatre performances helped them better understand difficult conversations better.
  • 92% agreed that their understanding of difficult conversations has improved, one respondent responded neutrally. 100% agreed their understanding of psychological safety improved.
  • 100% strongly agreed the workshop was worthwhile.
Which aspects of the workshop did you find particularly valuable?
  1. Forum theatre performances brought scenarios to life and led to actionable steps which we can use day to day.
  2. Discussions in small groups to understand different attitudes and ideas on how to deal with difficult conversations.
  3. Relevance of the issues discussed meant that staff felt invested.
  4. Interacting with colleagues from across the School and having the opportunity to talk about what would make the School a better place for everyone.
How will the knowledge you have learnt benefit you in the workplace?
  1. Raising awareness of issues contributes to better working relationships and performance.
  2. Knowing that the School recognises the importance of this training and is actively trying to cultivate a better working environment will encourage a culture shift in itself.
  3. Provided a framework to have difficult conversations and increased confidence to use this.
Are there any aspects of the workshop which you feel require improvement?
  1. More attendance from other members of the School to shift culture.
  2. Notes from discussions to be recorded and shared so that staff can fully participate in discussions.
  3. Create the space for and encourage staff to share personal experiences if they wish.
  4. Consider the timing of workshops e.g. difficult conversations workshop before PDRs.

Next steps 

  • Create a ‘Psychological Safety Commitment’ document based on staff suggestions in the workshop, provide opportunities for staff to share their feedback before introducing this document in an all-school meeting/planning day.
  • Organise a second ‘Difficult Conversations’ workshop with bespoke scenarios and small group practice on how to manage these conversations.
  • Explore ‘Active Bystander’ training to be run at Faculty level.