The principle behind having the right conversation at the right time is simple: if you notice someone doing something well, acknowledge it. If you observe a change in behaviour, such as timekeeping, check in—ask if everything is all right and offer support. This approach allows for quicker support or intervention before issues escalate.
To facilitate these timely conversations, it is essential to foster positive relationships in an environment where colleagues feel safe to express themselves, without fear or judgment, and were giving and receiving feedback is a natural part of communication.
Research shows that people value regular, honest, and constructive conversations. We all want to feel valued and have a sense of purpose. However, providing support and feedback often gets side-lined by other priorities like performance targets, meetings, and emails etc.
You may often hear the terms ‘challenging’ or ‘difficult conversations,’ but with the right mindset and preparation, conversations are simply opportunities to better understand one another. Using curiosity and compassion, we can confidently engage in any conversation. This session will guide you through the actions needed to create the right environment, address barriers, and develop strategies for having confident, compassionate conversations. During the session we will explore the actions you can take to create the right environment, and we will also identify what gets in the way and provide hints and tips on how you can start to have confident, curious, and compassionate conversations.
We will welcome into the conversation, Sandra Reid.
Sandra Reid
- Role:
- Organisational Development Lead, Scottish Ambulance Service
Sandra is an accomplished Organisational Development Lead with a career spanning over 36 years in leadership development, change management, and staff engagement. Currently with the Scottish Ambulance Service, she is responsible for driving staff experience initiatives and embedding a culture of continuous improvement.
Sandra brings a wealth of experience from previous roles, including her work as a Leadership and Talent Consultant with Police Scotland, where she delivered national leadership & CPD programmes and implemented coaching culture, and at Sky, where she led award-winning change programmes and leadership development initiatives.
With a passion for people and a commitment to fostering growth and inclusion, Sandra excels in coaching, mentoring, and creating environments where individuals and teams can thrive. Her expertise in project management, stakeholder engagement, and innovative solutions positions her as a dynamic facilitator dedicated to achieving both personal and organisational goals.
