Conversations that Connect -Turning Tension into Understanding
In an age of endless scrolling, polarized opinions, and AI-curated echo chambers, real conversation is becoming a lost art. We’re more connected than ever—yet feel more disconnected from each other. This four-evening workshop is designed to counter this growing disengagement. It offers a space to slow down, reflect, and rediscover the human need for meaningful dialogue. Reclaim meaningful dialogue in a divided world. For thousands of years, people gathered around fires, in pubs, churches, knitting circles
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Tue 26 Aug
- TEC-subsidised course fee for qualifying learners $30.00 incl. GST
- $110.00 incl. GST
Sessions
Session 1
Tue 26 Aug 19:00 - Tue 26 Aug 21:00At Selwyn College, Auckland.Session 2
Tue 02 Sep 19:00 - Tue 02 Sep 21:00At Selwyn College, Auckland.Session 3
Tue 09 Sep 19:00 - Tue 09 Sep 21:00At Selwyn College, Auckland.Session 4
Tue 16 Sep 19:00 - Tue 16 Sep 21:00At Selwyn College, Auckland.Please note there is NO refund or transfer if you cancel less than 5 working days in advance of a class starting. Our refund policy can be read in full here.
Description
About the course
This workshop will guide you through the essential practices of emotional intelligence, presence, and respectful dialogue. You'll learn to:
- Navigate challenging conversations with greater self-awareness and effectiveness
- Move beyond reactivity to more conscious, empathetic engagement
- Practice real-time conversation in one-on-one and group settings
- Create safe, respectful spaces for dialogue with clear group agreements: confidentiality, non-judgment, and kindness
Course outline
Over four engaging evenings, we’ll combine theory and hands-on practice, helping you:
- Understand the roots of miscommunication
- Develop conversational presence and listening skills
- Engage with difference rather than avoid it
- Reconnect with what makes conversational connectedness meaningful
Whether for your personal relationships, your workplace, or your community—this workshop is for anyone who wants to grow, connect, and contribute to a more understanding world.
Let’s come back to the fire. Let’s talk.
Expected learning outcomes
- Participants will get to understand why conversations these days can be wrought with conflict and polarisation
- They will understand the psychology that sits behind conflict and difference
- They will be given tools and strategies for having a voice without dominating or retreating
- They will get to practice the tools in a group setting and be given emotional intelligence and self-awareness techniques to manage their own emotional engagement when in conversation
Who should attend?
Anyone wanting to have meaningful discourse and learn how to make conversations more satisfying.
Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) course fee subsidy
This course offers a course fee subsidy through funding from the TEC for:
- NZ citizens;
- Those who hold a residency-class visa;
- Individuals granted refugee status;
- In some cases spouses of NZ citizens and permanent migrants may also qualify - please contact the office to enquire.
Conditions:
- Registrants must be aged 16 years or older.
- Registrants must not be currently enrolled at a secondary school.
- You should attend at least 80% of your classes to qualify for a fee subsidy.
- We need to collect extra information such as age, ethnicity, educational achievement and gender for statistical purposes.
- You must provide evidence of NZ citizenship, residency or refugee status .
If you are unable to meet these conditions, please contact the office to discuss your situation. The subsidised course fee is $30.
About your tutor, Kaye
Kaye is an NLP Master coach, Career Specialist, and is trained in public speaking and facilitation. Throughout her career, she has learned the delicate craft of group dialogue and inquiry practices. Over 25 years of coaching, she has helped many people navigate difficult conversations at work, helped employees resolve differences between each other, coached leaders to give a difficult message, and facilitated work teams to become more cohesive.
