Note:  Attendees will be asked to complete The Personal Values Assessment prior to attending.  The fee for this assessment is included in the registration. 

Wednesday 30 September, Symposium Day 1:  Understanding Power and Influence in the Ombuds Role 

8:45 - 9:15  Welcomes and Setting the Stage  

9:15 - 10:15 Practice Edge

We will begin the Symposium exploring the tensions that come up when practicing to Standards/SOPs, responding to what organizations really want, and embracing the true dichotomy of our dual mandates:  supporting visitors and understanding the organization as a visitor. The intent of this plenary remains the same: to "push the envelope” in a way that challenges us to openly discuss difficult practice issues in a critically supportive manner.  

10:15 - 10:30 Morning Break 

10:30 - 11:30  How Do You See Your Identity?   

Working with professional coaches we will do a deep dive into how we see ourselves, how we identify with our work as ombuds, and uncover traits or barriers that may unintentionally impact our work as influencers. 

 11:30 - 12:00  Small Group Work

Throughout the symposium, we will create space for small group discussions and informal sharing  

12:00 - 1:00 Lunch and OptionalAmerican Red Cross Historian Tour (30 min) 

1:00 - 2:00: Psychology of Tension 

Harnessing the power of tensions as an opportunity for constructive change can broaden ombuds practice. At this session, you will learn how: multilayered tensions may arise within organizational systems and understanding tensions can enhance your ombuds practice with a neutral and fair stance while uncovering potential opportunities for your visitors, constituents, and the organization you are serving.  

2:00 - 2:45 The Gentle Art of Influence  

Lobbyists educate with a specific goal in mind:  they understand their audience and apply messaging in a way that will resonate. At this session, you will hear from two DC lobbyists, and about the art of gentle influence and persuasion. 

2:45 - 3:00 Afternoon Break

3:00 - 4:00 Small Group Work

Thursday 1 October, Day 2: Tools To Help Exercise Your Power 

9:00 - 10:30 Media Coaching  

Media training teaches the powerful technique of how to answer questions not responsively but with information you want to convey.  At this session you will learn the art of the pivot and pause, and how media training can help you effectively work with organizational leadership.   

10:30 - 10:45 Morning Break 

10:45 - 11:45 Improv for Ombuds 

Building on the tools shared in the morning sessions, we will learn and practice improv techniques that will also help us use our influence. 

11:45-12:45 Lunch 

12:45-1:45 Being More Flexible in the Moment 

We speak Ombuds.  But we work with many different types of stakeholders who do not speak our language.  How do we come from a place of yes, while still practicing ethically and aligned with SOPs. During this hour, we will work on our responses to complex issues that typically come our way. 

1:45-2:30 Small Group Work 

2:30-2:45 Afternoon Break 

2:45 -3:30 Broadening Visitor Centric Perspective 

Our roles are complex and providing support to all that need our skills can be challenging.  While just focusing on visitor work is a luxury, it is also a vulnerability in today’s climate. What does it look like to broaden your visitor centric experience beyond the stakeholder in the room? How do we bring organizational awareness into all that we do?  This session will explore the how and the why and remind us of our comprehensive impact. 

3:30 - 4:00:  Debrief, Teeing Up Next Steps and Closing