Practical Leadership Skills That Build Trust
Great leadership is built in everyday conversations, but what happens when the conversation gets difficult? This practical and interactive seminar introduces leaders to simple counselling-informed skills that help people feel heard, understood and respected. Drawing on the core skills used by therapists every day, Paul Dykes will explore how active listening, empathy, congruence, attunement and vulnerability can strengthen trust, improve difficult conversations and create more human workplaces. Participants will leave with practical tools they can use immediately with staff, clients and stakeholders.
Paul Dykes
Counsellor, Executive Coach and Trainer, Paul Dykes Counselling
Paul Dykes is a Canberra-based counsellor, executive coach, educator and facilitator. With a Masters in Counselling and more than 20 years’ experience in marketing, stakeholder engagement and relationship-based work, Paul brings a rare combination of therapeutic insight and practical workplace experience. He teaches counselling skills at university level and works with individuals, couples and organisations to strengthen communication, trust and emotional connection.
Paul Dykes
Paul Dykes is a Canberra-based counsellor, executive coach, educator and facilitator. With a Masters in Counselling and more than 20 years’ experience in marketing, stakeholder engagement and relationship-based work, Paul brings a rare combination of therapeutic insight and practical workplace experience. He teaches counselling skills at university level and works with individuals, couples and organisations to strengthen communication, trust and emotional connection.
Key learnings
Use practical active listening skills, including minimal encouragers, paraphrasing and empathic responses, to build trust faster
Understand how empathy, congruence and attunement help leaders respond effectively in everyday and difficult conversations, along with ‘incidental counselling moments’
Apply a connection-first approach before giving feedback, correcting behaviour or moving into problem-solving
Recognise vulnerability as a leadership strength and learn how to stay present without rushing to fix, rescue or react
Who will attend
Current and emerging leaders, managers, team leaders, supervisors, HR and people leaders, project leaders and professionals who want to build stronger relationships, communicate with greater empathy and handle difficult conversations with more confidence.
Learn directly from a practising counsellor - Paul Dykes translates real therapeutic technique into practical leadership skills
Practical tools you can use the next day - Frameworks for staying present, responding with empathy and leading with connection first
Ask your own questions - Put your real workplace scenarios to Paul and get his perspective with live Q&A
A space to reflect on your own leadership conversations - Walk away with a fresh perspective on how you show up in them
Agenda
All times are shown in AEST
Acknowledgement of Country & Opening remarks
Session one: Why connection is a leadership skill
- Why people need to feel heard before they are open to feedback, ideas or change
- Empathy and congruence as practical leadership tools
- The importance of dealing with ‘incidental counselling’ moments
Session two: Active listening skills leaders can use immediately
- Minimal encouragers, paraphrasing and empathic responses
- Practising how to listen without interrupting, fixing or story-topping
- How small moments of listening/congruence build psychological safety and trust
Session three: Attunement, vulnerability & difficult conversations
- Matching the moment: tone, pace, body language and emotional gear
- Vulnerability as strength
- Connection before correction: responding before reacting in challenging conversations
Live open Q&A with Paul Dykes
Closing reflections & practical takeaways
Close of Seminar
Pricing
Save up until 21 August
+GST
Early bird pricing
Save $200
Save up until 4 September
+GST
Early bird pricing
Save $100
Price after early bird savings
+GST
Standard pricing
Bring your colleagues and save with a group discount
Groups of 10+ attendees save 10%Â Â Â Groups of 20+ attendees save 20%
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