Essential Employee Conversations

This training was presented
October 30 & November 4, 2025

REPLAY & RESOURCES:

Click the button below to access the training materials and resources from this workshop. Note: You will need to log in to your CalTrin account to access the training materials. You can create a free account here. Training certificates are only available following live trainings or completion of self-paced courses. A certificate will not be provided for review of these materials.

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TRAINING DETAILS:

Effective communication is key to building strong teams, improving staff performance, and fostering a culture of trust and accountability. This two-part series provides supervisors, managers, and leaders with practical tools to give meaningful feedback and navigate difficult conversations with confidence.

Part 1: Effective Feedback (Addressing a Situation)
Learn how to deliver clear, constructive feedback that promotes growth and accountability. This session introduces the SBI (Situation-Behavior-Impact) model, helping participants provide feedback that is specific, actionable, and well-received.

Part 2: Difficult Conversations (Addressing a Pattern)
Some conversations require more than one discussion. This session focuses on managing ongoing performance concerns, emotional reactions, and tough workplace interactions. Participants will learn strategies for handling defensiveness, setting clear expectations, and knowing when feedback shifts from coaching to accountability.

Note: Trainees should plan to attend both sessions of the series.

Participants will be able to:

• Develop confidence in workplace communication by using structured feedback techniques
• Recognize the difference between addressing a one-time situation and an ongoing pattern to provide feedback effectively
• Apply the SBI (Situation-Behavior-Impact) model to deliver feedback that is clear, objective, and actionable
• Navigate difficult conversations with professionalism by managing emotions, defensiveness, and resistance
• Determine when feedback shifts from coaching to accountability and understand appropriate next steps
• Practice real-world feedback scenarios to build skills for giving and receiving constructive input 

Who Should Attend: Staff in leadership roles in family resource centers (FRCs), child abuse prevention councils (CAPCs), community-based organizations, and other child- and family-serving systems.

IMPORTANT TRAINING INFORMATION:

• This is an interactive training. Please be prepared to participate in activities such as group discussion, break out rooms, and/or demonstration. Your training experience will be best with the use of a web cam, audio, and a training environment conducive to active participation.
• This training will NOT be recorded.
• Series Attendance: Participants are expected to attend all sessions in this series. If you are interested in this training but cannot attend all sessions, please contact CalTrin to be placed on the waiting list for future training.

• California privacy laws mandate consent for recording conversations using AI applications. To ensure a respectful and secure learning environment for all participants, AI assistants are not allowed in CalTrin training. We value an accessible learning environment. If you require an accommodation to support your learning, please email us at least three business days before the training.

• By registering for a CalTrin training, you consent to be added to the CalTrin mailing list.

Pre-Work: 

Prepare for Part 1: Think about a situation where you had to provide feedback to a staff member and you found it difficult or challenging:

• What did you find challenging about the situation?
• How did you feel before, during, and after the conversation?
• What is the skill/knowledge you wish you had to make the feedback conversation easier to navigate or deliver?