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(New!) From Groupthink to Breakthrough


Program: Year of Discourse and Dialogue
Presenter: Laura Ainsley, Manager of Leadership Development
Organization Development
Workshop Type: Virtual
Date: 5/29/2025
Time: 10:00AM - 12:00PM
Who Should Attend: All Faculty and Staff

Groupthink can impede dialogue and decision-making, but it happens in our work teams all the time. This discussion considers the dynamics of groupthink and offers strategies for breaking through its barriers to achieve more authentic and effective group communication




Silence (Not Golden): Dissent and Consensus in the Workplace


Program: Certificate in Organizational Leadership and Ethics, Year of Discourse and Dialogue
Presenter: Paul Klein, Clinical Associate Professor of Business Administration
Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business and College of Business Administration
Workshop Type: In-person
Date: 5/14/2025
Time: 9:00AM - 12:00PM
Location Name: 531 Alumni Hall
Location Address: 4227 Fifth Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15260
Materials Fee: $30
Who Should Attend: Faculty and staff who are supervisors or administrators or those who have made the transition from technical or administrative positions into managerial career paths where effectively managing people is part of competency development and overall effectiveness

Have you ever found yourself feeling uncomfortable, or disagreeing, with something you are required to do in the workplace? Have you found yourself in a situation in which you wanted to say something, to object to a proposed policy or course of action but instead remained silent? In this workshop we will examine why people are reluctant to speak up; why people hesitate to disagree, to question, to challenge. Full consensus leads to complacency in organizations. To remain vital, organizations need to create an environment in which employees feel safe and respected in expressing their concerns.





Discourse and Dialogue via LinkedIn Learning


Explore the following courses recommended to support the importance of civilized discourse in the workplace. The following courses can be accessed at no charge and at your convenience through your Pitt LinkedIn Learning account: https://www.technology.pitt.edu/services/ondemand-training-linkedin-learning, enter your Pitt username and password, then search for the following course titles.

  • Navigating Fundamental Disagreements
  • Finding Common Ground - video
  • Critical Thinking for More Effective Communication
  • Difficult Conversations About Politics at Work
  • Having Powerful, Advanced Conversations
  • How to Resolve Conflict and Boost Productivity through Deep Listening