Disarming Defensiveness

Disarming Defensiveness

Overview
Conflict and tension can show up in conversations when we least expect it. When our defenses shut down conversation and learning, we miss out on valuable knowledge that could help us grow. By understanding our instinctive emotional responses and learning how to communicate through them, we can empower our teams to use tension to improve our skills, rather than letting it divide us. This session focuses on identifying defensive communication patterns in our conversations and implementing communication strategies to disarm their impact on our teams.

Training Details & Format
2 Hours
Live Virtual Session or In-Person Session
Unlimited Participants


Learning Objectives
Explain how defensiveness manifests in behavior and communication.
Examine and evaluate the effects of identity-related defensiveness on interpersonal and team interactions.
Implement techniques to enhance connection and reduce disconnection in workplace interactions.


Skills & Core Concepts Addressed
Self Protection vs Group Protection
Interpersonal Effectiveness Goals
Interpersonal Effectiveness Skills


Why this? Why now?
There is a growing fear of conflict in the workplace; however, when communication stalls, problems increase. Understanding why people become defensive, how to respond effectively, and how to build a team-based approach to diffuse this tension not only reduces the overall anxiety individuals are feeling but can support teams in more consistent and effective communication.


What is Artesian Collaborative’s approach to this issue?
We often receive tips and techniques in a vacuum, and they become useless when faced with the intensity of emotional responses and dynamics. This training breaks down and normalizes defensiveness, provides space for participants to understand their own defensiveness, and begin practicing those skills in situations that have low stakes but mimic real-life workplace scenarios so they will have more useful future applications.


Participant Feedback
"This has been my favorite training so far by you guys! Sparked great conversations with my coworkers.

We need more of this!"

"Great job creating a safe space to share for people across [anonymous organization] hierarchy. Amazing job!"

"Dr. Chandy is an amazing presenter and very helpful and very real. She makes the [professional development] day worth attending."

"I liked using low stakes topics to practice discussions and use as example. It helped me understand better than using an actual controversial topic."