Discussing the undiscussables: Developing deeper conversational skills in the management education classroom

Keywords: conversational skills, interpersonal skills, social interaction

Abstract: This exercise was originally developed because of the need to teach students how to re-engage in face-to-face classroom conversations after 2 years of online teaching. It has since progressed to teach students how to enter into difficult conversations about topics that are stigmatised or taboo. The brief exercise teaches students how to engage in conversation using a graduated steps process. The students learn both the mechanisms to engage in conversation, manage the discomfort, and develop their interpersonal communication skills.