Speaker(s): Jessica Schmidt, Principal Consultant, Orchestrate Inclusion

Engaging in respectful disagreement requires a specific set of skills that we don’t always have the opportunity to hone. As we strive to build considerate and honest work cultures at our orchestras that include an array of opinions and lived experiences, we need space to practice and grow. This workshop will offer that space.

Through a lens of best practices in inclusion, participants will learn strategies to help navigate challenging interpersonal discussions. Specifically, participants will:

• Learn how challenging conversations contribute to psychological safety and positive organizational culture

• Build skills to better assess their initial reactions and to make mindful choices when entering a difficult conversation

• Build active listening skills

• Gain tools to hold curiosity for differences of opinion and experience