Managing in Difficult Times (1.75 Hours)*

Description

This course addresses specific strategies for weathering challenging times, including how to reduce costs, hold difficult conversations with employees and secure their support, and consider specific alternatives before laying off staff. Course participants learn how best to plan and implement staff reductions, how to deliver the difficult message, and how to leverage opportunities to strengthen the organization during tough times. Learners explore change management techniques to help recognize and manage employee stress, as well as their own stress, during periods of change. In addition, course participants gain an understanding of common reactions to change, and strategies for managing change to enable you to engage, motivate, and support employees. The course instructs participants in basic guidelines for when and where to initiate difficult conversations, and useful steps for managing the associated stress. Learners also acquire knowledge of ways to effectively prepare for a difficult conversation using a four-step process to ensure confidence, as well as constructive and diplomatic communication. Finally, participants gain the ability to demonstrate the right mindset when communicating unwelcome news to an employee.

 CE Broker:
Approval Number: 20-867128
Provider Number: 50-31808

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Course Outline

Managing in Difficult Times – 1.75 Hours*

Being an Effective Manager When Times Are Tough

Most companies will eventually face tough times, and it’s during these times that your role as a manager is vital. The employees you manage will depend on your leadership to help see them through, and shying away from tough conversations may only make the situation worse. In this course, you’ll learn specific strategies for weathering difficult times, including ways to reduce costs, how to hold difficult conversations with employees and secure their support, and what alternatives to consider before laying off staff. For when there’s no other choice, you’ll learn how best to plan and implement staff reductions, and how to deliver the difficult message. You’ll also learn about opportunities you can use to strengthen your organization during difficult times.

Managing Motivation during Organizational Change

A key challenge for managers is motivating and engaging employees during times of organizational change. To survive and grow in volatile markets, organizations have to embrace change; they have to innovate and adapt. However, because change involves uncertainty, it’s stressful, and it can impact employee motivation and productivity – just at a time when an organization needs everyone to pull together and give their best efforts. In this course, you’ll learn change management techniques to help you recognize and manage employee stress, as well as your own stress, during periods of change. You’ll also learn about common reactions to change, and strategies for managing change to enable you to engage, motivate, and support employees.

How to Manage Difficult Conversations

For managers, difficult conversations can be immensely stressful. Handled the wrong way, this kind of conversation can also damage your work relationships and leave you feeling unsure of your abilities. However, with the right preparation and mindset, you can make sure that you communicate difficult news with tact and diplomacy. In this course, you’ll learn some basic guidelines about when and where to initiate difficult conversations, and useful steps for managing the associated stress. You’ll learn how to prepare for a difficult conversation using a four-step process so that you’re confident and can make the conversation as constructive and diplomatic as possible. Finally, you’ll learn how to demonstrate that you have the right mindset when communicating bad news to an employee.