During the presentation of this training programme’s second module, communication was key.
Khosi Jiyane, of The Human Edge Training and Consulting, presented the second module of this programme and it was centred around Crucial Conversations. Jiyane is a registered Clinical Phycologist and expert in facilitating and coaching transformative learning interventions that are focused on negotiation, accountability, crucial conversations, influence, and change.
Even though training took place virtually, which presented certain limitations on creating connection and building collaboration between the participants, participants engaged well on an individual level with Jiyane, as well as, in online breakout groups that consisted of between two and four participants at a time.
The Crucial Conversations Training aims to provide participants with high-leverage skills, that can be used by individuals, teams, or organisations to mitigate issues around effective communication such as under-communication, withholding of information, failing to act when action is required, lack of unity and conviction with regards to scenarios where action is taken.
Through certain visual and audio scenario exercises, along with engagement and self-reflection exercises, participants learned about the course’s main objectives.
The programme is further premised on nine skills that include the following: Get Unstuck; Start with Heart; Master My Stories; State My Path; Learn to Look; Make it Safe 1; Make it Safe 2; Explore Other’s Paths; Move to Action.
Jiyane’s facilitation enabled participants to understand and access scenarios in which crucial conversation needs to take place. This helped participants identify what a crucial conversation looks like and what principles can be applied to specific situations to effectively conduct such a conversation within the limitations of several factors. These factors include the organisational leadership hierarchy, levels of open communication or lack thereof, the balance of power, individual communication techniques and behavioural responses.
The training sessions, which took place over the two days on 11 and 12 August presented participants with numerous opportunities for questions and answers with Jiyane regarding the principles communicated, but also specific questions around building effective means of communication and how these principles can assist them in addressing issues within the context of the Waterberg District itself.
Following the completion of the Training Modules 1 and 2, the organising team have determined to present Module 3 and 4 as face-to-face modules where participants will come together at a chosen venue for the duration of the training days under each training module. Module 3 took place on 1 and 2 September and was presented by Ms Kefilwe Morobane and Mr Siphiwe Moyo, while Module 4 will take place on 15 and 16 September 2021 and will be presented by Mr Ron Walters.
The training programme is presented in four modules, from July to September 2021. Our partners in this venture include the Hanns Seidel Foundation, experts from the University of the Witwatersrand (WITS), the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) and leadership development professionals from the organisations such The Human Edge Training and Consulting, Giving Wings – Strategic Consulting, Development & Training and Paradigm People Solutions.