Do you lead teams, programs, policy areas or regulatory work where ethical issues can create strong disagreement?

This executive course is designed for senior public sector leaders who need to lead or participate in difficult conversations where values, responsibilities, risks and public expectations may be in tension.

It is ideal if you:

• lead decisions that involve ethical complexity, trade-offs or competing public interests
• need to create space for respectful disagreement and constructive challenge
• want to better recognise the traps that derail difficult ethical conversations
• are responsible for setting the tone for open, accountable and trusted decision-making
• want practical strategies to help teams discuss ethical issues earlier and more effectively

Ethical conversations do not always happen when they should. When they do, they can be difficult to navigate, especially when people hold different values, assumptions or views about what is fair, appropriate or defensible.

Through a live simulation and practical strategies, this course helps you experience ethical disagreement first-hand, recognise your own tendencies and blind spots, and understand the patterns of thought and behaviour that can undermine constructive dialogue.

You’ll learn how to frame conversations clearly, establish shared norms, separate ideas from judgments and guide difficult discussions in ways that build trust, curiosity and respectful engagement.

Key topics include:

• why ethical disagreement occurs and why it can be difficult to resolve
• common traps that derail ethically complex conversations
• personal tendencies, biases and blind spots in ethical disagreement
• creating conditions for psychological safety, curiosity and respectful challenge
• framing and designing conversations with clear purpose and intent
• distinguishing ideas, values, assumptions and judgments
• navigating disagreement constructively and skilfully
• closing conversations with clarity, purpose and agreed next steps
• applying ethical conversation strategies in your own leadership context

• Understand why ethical disagreement occurs and why it can be difficult to resolve
• Recognise your own personal tendencies and pitfalls when engaging in ethical disagreement
• Frame and design effective conversations by clarifying goals and shaping constructive dialogue
• Establish shared norms that support curiosity, psychological safety and respectful engagement
• Navigate disagreement skilfully by distinguishing ideas from judgments and recognising personal biases
• Identify patterns of thought and behaviour that undermine ethically complex conversations
• Close conversations with purpose by identifying next steps and strengthening trust
• Apply practical strategies to your own leadership environment so ethical conversations happen when they need to, and in the right way

This course is delivered as a digital half-day session via Microsoft Teams.

This course is particularly relevant for SES Band 1–2, directors, assistant directors, EL2s, and senior policy, regulatory and program leaders.

Trust dilemmas for senior public sector leaders complements this course by extending the focus from leading constructive ethical conversations to recognising and responding to trust dilemmas involving integrity, outcomes, accountability and public confidence.

Together, the two courses strengthen the judgement, trust and leadership practice needed when the stakes are high.

Planning to book for a team? A bulk booking discount is available when you register three or more participants or bundle three or more courses.

Many of our courses can also be delivered exclusively for your organisation, either virtually or in person, and tailored to suit your team’s needs. Contact us to discuss your booking and available options.

If you would like to learn more about this course or our other offerings, please contact the IPAA ACT team on 02 6154 9800 or capability@act.ipaa.org.au.