Session Zoom link sent to those registered the day before.
Questions or need accommodations? Email us at ombudsed@utk.edu.

Session Zoom link sent to those registered the day before.
Questions or need accommodations? Email us at ombudsed@utk.edu.

Questions or need accommodations? Email us at ombudsed@utk.edu.

You may also request this workshop for your dept, unit, or group on your preferred date using the Ombuds Workshop or Outreach Session Request form.

This 12-hour workshop is next offered Nov/Dec 2025, over 4 weeks with ~1.5 hours independent online work each week before weekly Zoom sessions for 90 minutes each

A Crucial Conversation is a discussion between two or more people where the stakes are high, opinions vary, and emotions run strong. When conversations turn crucial, people tend to follow one of two ineffective paths: they either speak directly and abrasively to get the results they want but harm relationships, or they remain silent with the hope of preserving relationships only to sacrifice results. This intensive training builds skills for constructively engaging in conflict —rather than stepping over or around it— turning disagreement into dialogue.

Workshop details:

• Held online over 4 weeks, participants will complete 1-2 hours of asynchronous online activities from Crucial Learning (~6 hours) prior to engaging in each of four 1.5-hour virtual discussion and skills practice sessions (6 hours via Zoom) for 12 total PD hours. More about CCMD training content.
• Materials Cost: $270 online materials access fee per person. Consult with your unit/department/college for funding – this is typically paid via internal transfer through Campus Shared Services. Funding support available.

You must register for this training using the SEPARATE SPECIAL registration form (linked above and here):
Use this linked form to Register for this workshop - do not click the Join Waitlist button below.

What is Dignity and how does it relate to communication & conflict? We all have an inherent value (dignity) that drives our need to matter and belong. Attending to feelings and experiences of dignity is crucial to building relationships of trust and mutual understanding. Violations of dignity are often the root cause of anger, resentment, mistrust, and destructive conflict.

In this session, you will explore the importance of dignity in workplace relationships; discuss how to honor dignity & avoid violations; and strategize ways to uphold the dignity of yourself and others. This interactive workshop includes self-reflection, breakout discussion, and action planning activities.

Objectives:
o Understand human dignity as an inherent value and vulnerability at the core of how we find a sense of mattering and belonging in a community.
o Examine beliefs and behaviors that honor dignity as well as those that can harm our own dignity and that of others.
o Apply these concepts to university workplace scenarios.
o Create an action plan for increasing dignity-consciousness to your own workplace interactions.

Session Zoom link sent to those registered the day before.
Questions or need accommodations? Email us at ombudsed@utk.edu.

Do you find receiving workplace feedback a challenging experience?
Are you comfortable requesting and holding feedback dialogues?
What strategies do you use to advocate for your career goals and needs?
If receiving feedback is unpleasant, frustrating, or simply missing in your workplace experiences, you are not alone!

Join us for a 90-minute virtual session where we will discuss the receiver’s role in fostering constructive feedback experiences. During this session you will:

• Examine your current reactions and responses in different types of feedback situations.
• Learn strategies for engaging in constructive feedback dialogue to strengthen relationships, improve performance, and foster personal growth.
• Make a plan to advocate for your professional goals as part of feedback dialogue.

Questions or need accommodations? Email us at ombudsed@utk.edu.

Do you find receiving workplace feedback a challenging experience?
Are you comfortable requesting and holding feedback dialogues?
What strategies do you use to advocate for your career goals and needs?
If receiving feedback is unpleasant, frustrating, or simply missing in your workplace experiences, you are not alone!

Join us for a 90-minute virtual session where we will discuss the receiver’s role in fostering constructive feedback experiences. During this session you will:

• Examine your current reactions and responses in different types of feedback situations.
• Learn strategies for engaging in constructive feedback dialogue to strengthen relationships, improve performance, and foster personal growth.
• Make a plan to advocate for your professional goals as part of feedback dialogue.

Questions or need accommodations? Email us at ombudsed@utk.edu.

• our Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue (CCMD) intensive workshop (12 hours over 5 weeks), and
• our Employee Conflict Navigators (ECN) Certificate program.

• CCMD is a 12 hour virtual hybrid workshop that builds skills for constructively engaging in challenging conversations —rather than stepping over or around them. This intensive course outlines proven processs and strategies for turning disagreement (or avoidance) into constructive dialogue.

• The ECN Certificate program consists of 20 hours of workshops & follow-up coaching to develop participants communication, conflict management, and relationship-building skills. Open to all full-time employees with a utk.edu NetID, all participants are required to complete the CCMD workshop (12 hours) as part of this program. More about Conflict Navigators.

While we strongly recommend those interested in CCMD or ECN participate in this intro, it is not required. If you cannot attend one of these sessions and you have questions, make a 30-minute appointment to speak with the Ombuds Ed Coordinator or email ombudsed@utk.edu.

• our Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue (CCMD) intensive workshop (12 hours over 5 weeks), and
• our Employee Conflict Navigators (ECN) Certificate program.

• CCMD is a 12 hour virtual hybrid workshop that builds skills for constructively engaging in challenging conversations —rather than stepping over or around them. This intensive course outlines proven processs and strategies for turning disagreement (or avoidance) into constructive dialogue.

• The ECN Certificate program consists of 20 hours of workshops & follow-up coaching to develop participants communication, conflict management, and relationship-building skills. Open to all full-time employees with a utk.edu NetID, all participants are required to complete the CCMD workshop (12 hours) as part of this program. More about Conflict Navigators.

While we strongly recommend those interested in CCMD or ECN participate in this intro, it is not required. If you cannot attend one of these sessions and you have questions, make a 30-minute appointment to speak with the Ombuds Ed Coordinator or email ombudsed@utk.edu.

Have you ever felt afraid to speak up or share your ideas for fear of repercussions or causing conflict? Do you feel uncomfortable expressing or being yourself in the workplace? Are you concerned about staff or peers who have expressed similar concerns? You are not alone!

In this virtual session, you will discuss the importance of psychological safety in open and honest workplace communication, take steps to self-assess your own psych safety needs, and learn strategies to engage in respectful dialogue with peers about increasing psych safety in the workplace. Topics include: workplace culture, belonging, interpersonal risk-taking, compassionate dialogue, and the effects of increased psychological safety on workplace effectiveness and innovation. This interactive workshop includes self-reflection, breakout discussion, and action planning activities.

Session Zoom link sent to those registered the day before.
Questions or need accommodations? Email us at ombudsed@utk.edu.

Struggling with how to effectively assert your needs, opinions, and boundaries?
Worried you'll sound rude? Or may not be firm or clear enough?
Don’t know how to say “this is not OK with me” or feel guilty when you do?

During this virtual session we will:

• Explore a continuum of communication styles
• Discuss the benefits of assertive communication
• Examine common barriers to communicating assertively
• Share specific verbal and non-verbal strategies for communicating clearly, respectfully, and assertively

We will use breakout rooms for discussion and practice; access to microphone and camera recommended. Attendance via phone not recommended.

Session Zoom link sent to those registered the day before.
Questions or need accommodations? Email us at ombudsed@utk.edu.

Struggling with how to effectively assert your needs, opinions, and boundaries?
Worried you'll sound rude? Or may not be firm or clear enough?
Don’t know how to say “this is not OK with me” or feel guilty when you do?

During this virtual session we will:

• Explore a continuum of communication styles
• Discuss the benefits of assertive communication
• Examine common barriers to communicating assertively
• Share specific verbal and non-verbal strategies for communicating clearly, respectfully, and assertively

We will use breakout rooms for discussion and practice; access to microphone and camera recommended. Attendance via phone not recommended.

Session Zoom link sent to those registered the day before.
Questions or need accommodations? Email us at ombudsed@utk.edu.