Criticism and complaints can be painful and hard to hear. They can take a lot of time and energy to process and the impact can be long lasting. How can we step away from taking criticism personally to focus on what the speaker is asking for and to see what useful information it might contain about how we can be more effective in our work?

In this session we will explore

• our initial response to criticism and complaints

• how not to take it personally

• how to hear what the speak is trying to say

• what we want to take on board and what we want to let go

Sarah Ludford  is a group facilitator, mediator, trainer and coach. She works with organisations, housing projects, schools, community groups, families and individuals. Her works facilitates clear and compassionate communication and understanding, improved wellbeing, collaboration, and walking towards and holding conflict with presence.

Sarah is known for her calm presence and capacity to be authentic and vulnerable in leadership. She helps organisations develop restorative approaches and increase resilience around conflict. She also runs training in Empathy Skills and Nonviolent Communication

Sarah trained in community mediation in 2000 and became an Advanced Practitioner in the Arts of Coaching in 2003. In 2015, she became a Certified Trainer with the Centre for Nonviolent Communication and she is a founder member of the Conflict Transformation Weave for the Nonviolent Communication UK network. She has also trained in NVC Mediation and Restorative Circles. For more information visit: Sarahludford.co.uk and ctw-uk.com