ENGRG 5820

Eng Leader Skill Clinic: Difficult Conversations

Course Description

Course information provided by the 2026-2027 Catalog.

Difficult conversations are a normal feature of any team, workplace, or relationship that is functioning well. This clinic gives students the frameworks and language to approach those conversations with clarity and intention rather than avoidance. Students will learn what makes a conversation "difficult," why engaging rather than avoiding tends to produce better outcomes for everyone involved, and how to plan for, initiate, and navigate these exchanges constructively. Equal attention is given to managing one's own emotions in the moment and to using honest conversation as a foundation for stronger working relationships.

Enrollment Information Priority given to: Master of Engineering (MEng) students.

Last 4 Terms Offered (None)

Learning Outcomes

• Identify what constitutes a difficult conversation and explain why engaging with it matters for individual and team success.
• Plan for, initiate, and conduct a difficult conversation in a way that maximizes the chances of a productive outcome.
• Manage your own emotional responses during challenging exchanges.
• Use difficult conversations as an opportunity to strengthen rather than strain relationships.

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