Miki

About CNVC Certified Trainer Miki Kashtan


Learn to give the gift of your truth

Feedback without Criticism
A Telecourse with Miki Kashtan

  • Overcome the dread about writing performance evaluations
  • Trust your capacity to meet challenges when offering feedback
  • Become excited about creating a learning culture in your organization
  • Learn how to receive feedback without defending yourself

Special Offer: Register for Feedback without Criticism and receive a 15% discount coupon for Miki's MP3 audio recording: The Twain Shall Meet: Connection and Effectiveness in the Workplace Using Nonviolent Communication, a 5-session series on bringing NVC consciousness and skills into the workplace.

This 5-session telecourse is designed to support you in learning what makes giving and receiving feedback challenging and how you can turn these experiences into opportunities for learning, connection, and effective functioning. The format of the class includes ample opportunities to work with examples from your own circumstances to make the learning practical and immediately applicable. Each session focuses on a different theme and includes a worksheet to prepare for the session.

Session Topics:

  • Session 1 – Why Is Feedback Important and What Makes It Hard?
  • Session 2 – Mastering the Motivation to Contribute
  • Session 3 – The Building Blocks of Useable Feedback
  • Session 4 – Meeting Challenges with Empathy
  • Session 5 – Opening to the Gift of Others’ Feedback

Sign up for session 1 absolutely free.

Miki's engaging style and deep wisdom will inspire you and deepen your capacity to create effective and harmonious relationships at work no matter your place in the organization. Join the introductory session on October 5th, and you’ll have the chance to register for the remaining 4 sessions at our special rate of $140 USD!


Class Schedule:

Session 1: Introduction: Why Is Feedback Important and What Makes It Hard? — FREE!

This session lays the foundation for the rest of the course. Participants are asked to explore in depth what makes criticism challenging and why so many of us avoid conflict. We look at the difficulties we tend to have about knowing how to offer feedback that can be supportive and meaningful, and begin the exploration of how to relate feedback to specifics and to what matters, and how to provide clear behavioral suggestions. We also address why feedback is such a vital tool for creating organizations that thrive.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010 • 5:30 - 7:30 PM PDT (12:30 AM GMT / 10/6)—My Time Zone?

Sessions 2-5: Skills Deepening -  Four additional sessions for just $140 USD!
(Please note: Daylight savings time ends during this course. Please be sure to check your time zone below by clicking "My Time Zone" for each course date.)

Session 2:
Tuesday, October 19, 2010 • 5:30 - 7:30 PM PDT (12:30 AM GMT/ 10/20)—My Time Zone?
TOPIC: Mastering the Motivation to Contribute

This session addresses the complexity of what leads us to offer feedback, and the important distinction between offering feedback and wanting to be heard when we are unhappy. We look at how we can transform our inner experience so that the offering of feedback is motivated by clarity about how the feedback can contribute to the individual and to the larger whole.

Session 3:
Tuesday, November 2, 2010 • 5:30 - 7:30 PM PDT (12:30 AM GMT/ 11/3)—My Time Zone?
TOPIC: The Building Blocks of Useable Feedback

Whether we offer “positive” or “negative” feedback, the first order of business is to make specific and concrete observations free of evaluations or judgment. For “positive” feedback the specifics anchor our feedback and reassure the person that our feedback is not just a sweet preamble to criticism. For “negative” feedback, the non-judgmental specificity allows the person to take the information in despite our dissatisfaction. In both cases we link the feedback to why it matters – to us or to the larger organization or group, so as to provide motivation and clarity about why feedback is being offered. In both cases we offer suggestions for future behavior – either to expand or increase what we like, or to find ways of creating shift that are doable and concrete.

Session 4:
Tuesday, November 16, 2010 • 5:30 - 7:30 PM PST (1:30 AM GMT/ 11/17)—My Time Zone?
TOPIC: Meeting Challenges with Empathy

However skillful we are at delivering feedback, the other person may still take issue, become upset, or disagree with our feedback. Whatever the situation, we stand to make better use of our time with another person if we are prepared to meet with empathy any discomfort our feedback may generate. Through connection and dialogue we either reach agreement on our proposed strategy for change, or we learn new information that changes our proposed strategy. Prioritizing the human connection and mutual understanding allows us to navigate challenges with grace and efficiency.

Session 5:
Tuesday, December 7, 2010 • 5:30 - 7:30 PM PST (1:30 AM GMT/ 12/8)—My Time Zone?
TOPIC: Opening to the Gift of Others’ Feedback

The art of receiving feedback entails training people who are giving us feedback to offer us specific observations, letting us know why the feedback matters, and telling us what they want us to do. In addition, learning to receive feedback requires us to increase our capacity for self-acceptance as well as empathy so we can hear the gift even if it is presented as criticism. The strength we acquire in this way supports us in moving where we want to go and in modeling an openness that can then inspire more ease and flow of feedback in the organization or group in which we participate.


Prerequisite: This class is open to everyone who wants to attend, but will not cover the basics of Nonviolent Communication. To learn the basics in preparation for the class, you can take the Foundations of NVC Online Course , or read the first 8 chapters of Marshall B. Rosenberg's book, Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life.

This class offers a 15% discount to employers who register 5 or more employees from their organization. Contact our Help Desk for more information.

Register for Session 1: Free

Returning Student?
Login and Register
New to NVC Academy?
Sign-up and Register

Register for Sessions 2-5: $140.00 USD

Returning Student?
Login and Register
New to NVC Academy?
Sign-up and Register

Wondering about special requests, discounts, pricing options?  Click here for more information.

Upon registration, you will receive an e-mail with complete instructions for how to access the call, and suggestions to maximize the benefits of your experience. All registrants receive access to session recordings whether they attend a session or not.

Question?Questions?
Visit our Help Desk

Stay in Touch!

Not ready to register yet? You can still receive NVC training tips, be notified of new free videos and other events by e-mail. It takes just a few seconds to sign up. We'll never share your e-mail address with a 3rd party and you can stop receiving mail from us at any time.

Stay in Touch

Nonviolent Communication

Watch this short video presentation about nonviolent communication. Read more About NVC and the History of NVC.
Learn about the mission of the International Centerfor Nonviolent Communication.

But, I'm not violent! What do you mean by the word "nonviolent"?

NVC Academy

Wondering who is behind the NVC Academy?
Learn more About Us.
Let's connect. Contact Us.

Wondering about the basis for the pricing of our products and services? Read more...

"));