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Workshops & Coaching

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Awareness & Outreach | Workshops & Coaching | Certificate Programs

90-minute workshopsIntensive multi-session workshopsFollow-up coaching

Ombuds Workshops

Register for a Workshop | Request one of our Workshops

As all our workshops are highly interactive, including small group discussion and individual skills practice, they are at least 90 minutes in length. We are happy to deliver workshops via in-person or virtual formats in morning, afternoon, and evening time slots.

In order to ensure the quality of content and instruction, we are unable to:

  • shorten the lengths of our workshops,
  • make significant modifications to workshop content, or
  • offer workshops in a hybrid format (delivering in person and online at the same time).

Ombuds Workshop Topics

Designed to enhance communication skills & practices, these 8 workshop topics are drawn from analysis of Ombuds visitor & participant feedback as well as themes from visitor concerns. We are unable to provide workshops on topics other than those listed on this page.

Register for a Workshop | Request one of our Workshops or contact ombudsed@utk.edu with questions

FOCUS ON SELF-IMPROVEMENT

We all have an inherent value (dignity) that drives our need to matter and belong. 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.

Have you ever felt afraid to speak up or share your ideas for fear of repercussions or causing conflict? Join us to 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.

This session starts with pre-work: completing a 20-minute online Conflict Dynamics Profile (CDP) assessment before the workshop date. During the workshop, you will learn about both helpful and unhelpful behaviors in conflict as well as specific “hot buttons” that tend to draw out unhelpful behaviors. Designed to enhance your personal ability to navigate conflict, we will provide an overview of conflict processes and opportunities to reflect on your CDP results.

Struggling with how to effectively assert your needs, concerns, opinions, and boundaries? The goal of this workshop is to empower you to honestly communicate what you think, feel, and want in a way that honors dignity and contributes to psychological safety.

If receiving feedback is unpleasant, frustrating, or simply missing in your workplace experiences, you are not alone! Join us to discuss the receiver’s role in fostering constructive feedback experiences. Topics include: fostering a growth mindset, managing emotions, setting SMART goals, and planning for regular feedback dialogue.

FOCUS ON TAKING THE LEAD 

Based in Donna Hicks’ Leading with Dignity: How to create a culture that brings out the best in people (2018), this session will overview key concepts of dignity and ask you to share your recent efforts in developing your dignity-consciousness. We will then focus on six strategies for fostering the dignity-consciousness of others in campus settings. Topics include: fostering a growth mindset, modeling vulnerability, activating empathy, cultivating trust, & taking responsibility as a leader.
Prerequisite: Completion of DS-Dignity: A Key to Conflict or provided pre-reading on Dignity.

After an overview of key psychological safety concepts* participants will discuss their recent efforts in strengthening psychological safety at work. We will then examine key strategies for creating a more psychologically safe working environment, including: appreciative listening, clarifying shared expectations & purpose; pro-active inquiry; destigmatizing failure; and modeling inclusivity.
Pre-requisite: Completion of PSS-Working Together in Psychological Safety or provided pre-reading on psychological safety.

Framing feedback discussions as a dialogue, we will discuss your role in building trust and a sense of safety for receivers. We then will examine effective communication strategies within these dialogues, such as: making it safe, inviting dialogue, focusing on facts vs stories, and common pitfalls to avoid.
Recommended pre-requisite: Completion of Receiving Feedback Well: Crafting Constructive Responses.

Available May 2025! Human-centered high-quality research environments are a team effort resulting in lower stress, fewer errors, better collaboration, and increased innovation. Join us to explore concepts, strategies, and resources for building more psychologically safe environments through PI, team leader, and peer mentoring. National research practice recommendations note that open communication that includes many different perspectives builds understanding and trust that is key to practicing better science.
Recommended pre-requisite: Completion of Receiving Feedback Well: Crafting Constructive Responses.

Register for a Workshop | Request one of our Workshops or contact ombudsed@utk.edu with questions

 

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Intensive Multi-session Workshops – Crucial Conversations®

Ombuds staff certified as Crucial Conversations Trainers will support participants’ understanding of and practice in strategies for effective communication when stakes are high, opinions differ, and emotions are strong.

  • Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue® – view brochure

    Delivery: 12 hours over 4-5 weeks, participants will complete on-demand asynchronous activities (5-6 hours) and discuss & practice strategies in four 90-minute synchronous Zoom sessions (6 hours).
    Other 12-hour scheduling options available.

    Cost: There is a $318 per participant online materials access fee for each participant – with 1 year access to all materials. Funding assistance & scholarships available.

  • Crucial Conversations for Accountability® – view brochure

Delivery: 8 hours over 3 weeks, participants will complete on-demand asynchronous activities (4-5 hours), then discuss & practice strategies in three 60-minute synchronous Zoom sessions (3 hours). Individual  on-demand only (5 hours) and other schedule options available.

Cost: There is a $232 per participant online materials access fee for each course – with 1 year access to all materials. Funding assistance available.

Groups should use the Request Form to schedule a private workshop offering.
or contact ombudsed@utk.edu with any questions.

 

Top | Register for a Workshop | View Workshop Calendar |  Request a Workshop

Follow-Up Coaching & Consultation (FC&C)

To assist in applying new skills, Ombuds staff provides individualized coaching or consultation sessions to individuals, groups, or leaders within 6 months of any workshop completion. This services is available for:

  • Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue – 2 sessions included for leaders, groups or individuals who complete the training – provided by CC Certified staff.
  • Conflict Dynamics Profile – provided by CDP certified staff
  • All other 90-minute workshops – provided by certified coaching staff.

Request a Follow-up Coaching or Consultation session
or contact ombudsed@utk.edu with any questions