In Partnership with Lange International
Strategies to listen and react during tough and unexpected conversations
How do you prepare for challenging conversations? Are you managing your tough questions with poise and confidence? Being prepared with strategies for navigating these key moments will build your confidence, create and maintain long lasting relationships, and drive understanding and action in those around you.
Upcoming course dates
Wednesday, March 4, 2026, 12:30-3:00pm PT
Wednesday, September 23, 2026, 12:30-3:00pm PT
Benefits of attending this online course
- Build and practice reflective listening skills and strategies
- Practice how to manage difficult conversations using a template for delivering bad news
- Learn strategies for maintaining relationships after tough conversations occur
- Manage key “moments of truth” with confidence to inspire action
Course Overview
Crucial to all levels of personal and professional development, being a good listener is a key communication skill. It builds trust, deepens relationships, and strengthens connections. Participants will learn and practice reflective listening strategies, as well as how to ask open-ended, high-value questions, to ensure alignment with others, uncover motivation, and create engagement. You will practice how to manage difficult conversations using a template for delivering bad news and consider strategies for maintaining the relationship after the conversation occurs.
This course is offered on its own or as part of the Business Communication Certificate.
Registration and Fees
Registration deadline: February 25, 2026
Registration deadline: September 6, 2026
Program fee includes instruction and learning materials. Payment must be made by credit card or UW budget transfer prior to the program. Discounts are not applicable to UW Executive Education online classes. It is strongly encouraged that you register early as space is limited. See cancellation policies.
Course Facilitator
Baily Hancock is a Connection-Centered Strategist, speaker, and writer who guides leaders and teams to create ecosystems of connection that fuel trust, alignment, and lasting results. She helps people move from isolated to interconnected by building networks and activating relationships that drive both performance and resilience.
For nearly two decades, Baily has worked across partnerships, community strategy, marketing, and events at organizations including Warner Bros., IDEO, General Assembly, The Riveter, and Mighty Networks. This cross-industry foundation gave her a front-row seat to how connection shapes culture, drives collaboration, and sparks innovation.
Baily holds an MBA with certificates in Entrepreneurship and Management from the University of South Florida and is especially passionate about empowering women to cultivate the kind of relationships that fuel both professional growth and personal fulfillment. Recognized with the Empowerment Leader Award from the Business Relationship Alliance, Baily is known for turning big ideas about connection into practical tools that leaders and teams can immediately apply.
Partnership with Lange International
Lange International transforms leaders into great communicators. Their primary goal is to ensure each client is confident and prepared to make the most of every communication moment.
They help clients improve the WHAT and HOW of communication. From content creation and story development to executive presence and event coaching, they are experts in guiding leaders to connect and compel.
Since 2003, they have delivered communication workshops, leadership programs, executive coaching, and keynotes around the globe.