History of the Effective Conversations Workshops

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 Background

Since July 2008, the Physician Health Program (PHP) has been delivering CME accredited workshops, dealing with compassionate (nonviolent) communication to physicians around BC.  The workshops were developed in response to a request from the CME Nucleus Committee of the BCMA to develop accredited resources on topics in physician health, with a particular focus on difficult interpersonal issues amongst physicians and health care workers, including everything from how to approach colleagues in distress to how to build collegiality and improve teamwork.


In searching for a set of concepts, skills and attitudes that would provide a framework for learning how to deal with these challenging communication situations, we found what we were looking for in the work of Dr. Marshall Rosenberg, a world-renowned clinical psychologist and international peacemaker. His extensive writing and teaching on compassionate (nonviolent) communication provides a conceptual model that is effective and applicable in almost any form of interpersonal communication. The basic model is simple, but it is also powerful and transformative.

Compassionate Communication is a relatively simple formula that helps clarify our intentions and filter out some of the negative habits, attitudes and reactions that can interfere with effective communication. It is a way of speaking that leads to a way of thinking, and eventually to a way of being: a set of tools to improve the quality of our interactions with others and raise awareness within ourselves. The methods outlined are extremely helpful in working through difficult communication situations, defusing arguments and creating positive connections to others that inspire goodwill and co-operation instead of resentment, anger and distrust.

When these approaches are fostered in the workplace it can promote healthier, more positive environments where collegiality can flourish.

Moving Forward

After sponsoring 18 workshops, and reaching approximately 350 participants, we evaluated the feedback from participants and made a plan for a second iteration of the workshop.  In late October 2009, we had our first meeting with the Compassionate Communication Workshops Advisory Committee, a  PHP-subcommittee composed of six physicians who have participated in the workshop and have some interest in communication and or experience with facilitating and organizing small groups of physicians.  The commitee, and the PHP staff are working on a new, improved version of the workhsops.

Here are some highlights of the changes that we are making to the workshops:

  • Accreditation for Mainpro C and MOCOMP Category 5 (as well as maintining the Mainpro M1 accreditation);
  • Increased options and support for follow-up and further learning;
  • Increased group participation and small group work;
  • Additional role play of difficult communication situations.

 The new version of the workhsop will be available in the spring of 2010.