Critical Conversations Results-based Communication

• Establishing a mutual goal
• Getting aligned to a shared business outcome
• Eliminating detracting secondary goals
• Recognizing what makes a conversation emotional
• Trigger words to avoid
• The role of unshared context
• Understanding the advanced 5S-5F-3A communication model
• Critical elements of advanced communications
• Making it emotionally safe to speak the brutal truth
• Advanced conversation skills, including listening and questioning
• Mastering storytelling
• Understanding the games we play
• Defusing the games they play
• Difficult conversations—dealing with the really tough cases
• Dealing with high conflict situations
• What to do when things go badly
• Toolkit  of opening and recovery phases

Closing well – Getting agreed outcome and action plan

Registration Date/Time:
2/2/2026 1:30pm Central Time

Event Dates/Times:

• 2/2/2026  2:00pm - 5:00pm Central Time
• 2/3/2026  2:00pm - 5:00pm Central Time
• 2/4/2026  2:00pm - 5:00pm Central Time
• 2/5/2026  2:00pm - 5:00pm Central Time

Purchase of the Help! I Need to Master Critical Conversations book is strongly recommended. The book can be purchased here.

Online course materials will be available approximately one week prior to the course date. Once you have accessed them through the online course site, no cancellations or refunds will be granted.  

• Program Director

  Jon Wellik

• Trevor Manning

  Consultant

  Trevor Manning is an accomplished author, leaderhsip consultant, and trainer with extensive international experience leading technical teams. He has held roles such as chief engineer, technical director, Chief Operating Officer, and board advisor.
  
  With a diverse background spanning various companites including a large government-owned utility, a US-headquartered manufacturer, an international London headquartered start-up, and a privately owned telecommunications operator, Trevor offers valuable insights into real-world business operations.
  
  Trevor leads three training courses at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, focusing on practical insights derived from his wealth of experience.
  
  Effectively Managing Technical Teams
  
  Leadership Beyond Your Team: Managing Up and Across
  
  Critical Conversations: Results-based Communication
  
  Trevor has published several technical and leadership books and lives in Brisbane, Australia.

If you are planning to attend an Interdisciplinary Professional Programs course, payment is required at the time of registration. Below are the payment options:

Pay by Credit Card

Enroll online and pay by credit card.

• Search for the course on the website and then click on the Enroll Now button from the course webpage.
• Enter all necessary course attendee information and payment information on the course enrollment page.
• You will receive an email to confirm successful enrollment and payment.

Enroll over the phone and pay by credit card.

• Call CERC Registrations at 608-262-2451.
• Provide the registrations representative with:
  • the course name, dates, and/or course number.
  • the necessary course attendee information and payment information.
• You will receive either a mailed document or an email to confirm successful enrollment payment.

Pay by Check

Mail in a completed registration form and check payable to UW Madison.

• Fill out a registration form (found either in the back of the course brochure you received in the mail or here).
• Prepare a check, made payable to UW Madison.
• Mail the registration form and check to: CERC Registrations 21 N Park St, Ste 7101 Madison, WI 53715
• You will receive either a mailed document or an email to confirm successful enrollment and payment.

Pay by Purchase Order

• Request Purchase Order information from interpro@union.wisc.edu
  • If a fee quote is needed, contact custserv@interpro.wisc.edu first
• You will receive an invoice from UW–Madison Business Services for payment, usually within 3–5 business days

Military

If using SF-182 form, please call our registration number at 608-262-2451 or email interpro@union.wisc.edu for details and instructions.

Event Cancellation

We reserve the right to cancel a course due to insufficient enrollment or unforeseen events. If we cancel a course, participants will be notified via email or phone and will be given the option for a full refund or to transfer their registration and any fees paid to another course. We are not responsible for non-refundable plane tickets, hotel reservations, and other travel related expenses. For enrollee Course Cancellation, refer to notes on course page.

If you cannot attend, please notify us by no later than one week before your course begins, and we will refund your fee. Because this course has limited enrollment, cancellation received after this date and no-shows are subject to the full course fee. You may enroll a substitute at any time before the course starts.

This course is part of the Technical Leadership Certificate. Course may be taken individually as well.

• Establishing a mutual goal
• Getting aligned to a shared business outcome
• Eliminating detracting secondary goals
• Recognizing what makes a conversation emotional
• Trigger words to avoid
• The role of unshared context
• Understanding the advanced 5S-5F-3A communication model
• Critical elements of advanced communications
• Making it emotionally safe to speak the brutal truth
• Advanced conversation skills, including listening and questioning
• Mastering storytelling
• Understanding the games we play
• Defusing the games they play
• Difficult conversations—dealing with the really tough cases
• Dealing with high conflict situations
• What to do when things go badly
• Toolkit  of opening and recovery phases

Closing well – Getting agreed outcome and action plan

Registration Date/Time:
9/16/2026 7:30am Central Time

Event Dates/Times:

• 9/16/2026  8:00am - 4:30pm Central Time
• 9/17/2026  8:00am - 4:30pm Central Time

Recommended Reading

Purchase of the Help! I Need to Master Critical Conversations book is strongly recommended. The book can be purchased here.

This is a HyFlex (in-person and online) taught course. Your registration is for one teaching platform only: in-person or online. Please be prepared to attend all days either in-person or online. Contact us if you have any questions or if you need to make a change. 

Registration confirmation will guide students through accessing the Canvas course site.

Students will create and log in to the Canvas course site with a NetID. Course assets such as instructional materials, participation certificates, and course evaluations will be available to all students through the Canvas course site.

The course materials are all digital and only available on the Canvas course website. 

Online attendees will access sessions via the Zoom web conferencing platform. The Zoom link will be provided a few days before the course.

Please watch the email address that you provide during registration for release dates and pre-course information. 

• Program Director

  Jon Wellik

• Trevor Manning

  Consultant

  Trevor Manning is an accomplished author, leaderhsip consultant, and trainer with extensive international experience leading technical teams. He has held roles such as chief engineer, technical director, Chief Operating Officer, and board advisor.
  
  With a diverse background spanning various companites including a large government-owned utility, a US-headquartered manufacturer, an international London headquartered start-up, and a privately owned telecommunications operator, Trevor offers valuable insights into real-world business operations.
  
  Trevor leads three training courses at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, focusing on practical insights derived from his wealth of experience.
  
  Effectively Managing Technical Teams
  
  Leadership Beyond Your Team: Managing Up and Across
  
  Critical Conversations: Results-based Communication
  
  Trevor has published several technical and leadership books and lives in Brisbane, Australia.

If you are planning to attend an Interdisciplinary Professional Programs course, payment is required at the time of registration. Below are the payment options:

Pay by Credit Card

Enroll online and pay by credit card.

• Search for the course on the website and then click on the Enroll Now button from the course webpage.
• Enter all necessary course attendee information and payment information on the course enrollment page.
• You will receive an email to confirm successful enrollment and payment.

Enroll over the phone and pay by credit card.

• Call CERC Registrations at 608-262-2451.
• Provide the registrations representative with:
  • the course name, dates, and/or course number.
  • the necessary course attendee information and payment information.
• You will receive either a mailed document or an email to confirm successful enrollment payment.

Pay by Check

Mail in a completed registration form and check payable to UW Madison.

• Fill out a registration form (found either in the back of the course brochure you received in the mail or here).
• Prepare a check, made payable to UW Madison.
• Mail the registration form and check to: CERC Registrations 21 N Park St, Ste 7101 Madison, WI 53715
• You will receive either a mailed document or an email to confirm successful enrollment and payment.

Pay by Purchase Order

• Request Purchase Order information from interpro@union.wisc.edu
  • If a fee quote is needed, contact custserv@interpro.wisc.edu first
• You will receive an invoice from UW–Madison Business Services for payment, usually within 3–5 business days

Military

If using SF-182 form, please call our registration number at 608-262-2451 or email interpro@union.wisc.edu for details and instructions.

Event Cancellation

We reserve the right to cancel a course due to insufficient enrollment or unforeseen events. If we cancel a course, participants will be notified via email or phone and will be given the option for a full refund or to transfer their registration and any fees paid to another course. We are not responsible for non-refundable plane tickets, hotel reservations, and other travel related expenses. For enrollee Course Cancellation, refer to notes on course page.

If you cannot attend, please notify us by no later than one week before your course begins, and we will refund your fee. Because this course has limited enrollment, cancellation received after this date and no-shows are subject to the full course fee. You may enroll a substitute at any time before the course starts. Once you have accessed the online course, exam and/or materials, no cancellations or refunds are permitted.

This course is part of the Technical Leadership Certificate. Course may be taken individually as well.