Crucial Conversations: Turn Disagreement into Dialogue
Crucial conversations take place in every organization, every day. These are conversations with high stakes, differences of opinions, and strong emotions. Conversations like:
Get the Skills to Speak Up When It Matters Most
Whether they take place at work or home, with your supervisor or peers, crucial conversations can profoundly impact your career, happiness, and future. These conversations lead to strained relationships and poor results when mishandled or ignored.
Crucial Conversations® is a course that teaches skills for creating alignment and agreement by fostering open dialogue around high-stakes, emotional, or risky topics – at all levels of an organization. When you learn the 14 specific skills on how to speak and be heard, you will be able to:
- Prepare for high-impact situations.
- Make it safe to talk about almost anything.
- Be persuasive, not abrasive.
- Keep listening when others blow up or clam up.
Turn crucial conversations into the action and results you want.
After completing the Crucial Conversations program
Participant Testimonial
"Since completing Crucial Conversations, I try to listen more with the intent to understand where the other person is coming from and what their needs are. When stuck in a conversation, I try to step away, reflect, and think about the best approach to tackle an issue to gain a mutual and positive outcome."
—U of A Employee
Registration Process: Enroll Yourself or A Group
Want to take Crucial Conversations, but need to convince your supervisor? Download this editable email template and send it their way!
Course Cost: $318 per person
For group registration: Build shared language and acquire powerful tools for your team. To enroll four or more people, please email crucial@arizona.edu before registering.
March 19-20, 2025 In-Person Course
Time Commitment: Two all-day sessions. You must be able to attend both days. Please read the entire Participation and Financial Policy for all details before registering.
Location: Tucson Main campus; location shared after registration is confirmed
Class Time: Classes take place from 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM daily. There is a one-hour break for lunch (not provided).
Please note: This course is for University of Arizona employees only. You will be redirected to log in with your NetID before proceeding to the registration page.
Can't Wait for Your Course? Try it Now!
How to Address Your Concerns with a Difficult Coworker
We've all had at least one difficult co-worker or person whose behaviors have negatively affected us. How can you mentally prepare to talk to this person in an open, clear way, and gets results?- Stop and Think
- Be Specific
- Understand Boundaries
Result: You confidently confront a challenging issue and change the situation/relationship with respect.