CEP Understanding Leadership: Making Decisions, Building Relationships and Managing Difficult Conversations

Whether you're leading a team, coordinating a project or taking on more responsibility in your role, leadership brings daily challenges. This practical workshop is structured around three key aspects of leadership: Problem Solving and Decision Making, Emotional Intelligence, and Conflict Management. Through a mix of discussion, reflection and practical exercises, participants will explore each topic and consider how these skills can support effective leadership in their organisations and communities. The day will conclude with an opportunity to reflect on key learning, develop an action plan and identify next steps for ongoing leadership development.

This Learning Event is delivered by NICVA as part of the Community Empowerment Programme (CEP) and is only available to individuals living and/or working in the Belfast City Council area.

Overview of Session

This workshop explores three essential aspects of effective leadership:

• Problem Solving and Decision Making - making informed decisions and tackling challenges in a structured way.
• Emotional Intelligence - understanding yourself and others to build positive and productive relationships.
• Conflict Management - developing the confidence and skills to manage difficult situations and conversations constructively.

Through practical exercises, discussion and reflection, participants will explore each topic and consider how these skills can strengthen their leadership practice and support them in their current and future roles.

Why Attend?

• Take time away from day-to-day pressures to focus on your own leadership development.
• Increase your confidence in dealing with challenges and uncertainty in your role.
• Gain practical approaches that can be applied in your organisation and community setting.
• Learn alongside peers from across the voluntary and community sector.
• Share experiences and reflect on common leadership opportunities and challenges.

• Leave with ideas and actions to support your continued growth as a leader.

   

What you’ll learn

A practical introduction to:

• Problem-solving approaches and decision-making techniques.
• Identifying root causes and analysing issues effectively.
• The role of emotional intelligence in leadership.
• Self-awareness, self-management and understanding others.
• Building trust and positive working relationships.
• Managing difficult conversations and responding to conflict constructively.
• Practical conflict-resolution techniques and strategies.
• Reflecting on your own leadership style and areas for development.

Facilitator

Roisin Kelly is the Skills Development Manager at NICVA, where she has over 20 years' experience supporting the VCSE across Northern Ireland. She specialises in leadership and organisational development, facilitation, and workforce skills training, helping individuals and organisations build capacity and strengthen their impact. Through her work with NICVA Academy, Roisin delivers a wide range of learning and development programmes, supporting leaders, managers and practitioners to enhance their skills, confidence and effectiveness in an evolving sector.

Community Empowerment Programme (CEP)

The Community Empowerment Programme is being delivered by the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA) and a network of community partners from across Belfast. It is one of the six key projects which are being delivered as part of the Belfast PEACEPLUS Local Community Action Plan. This project is supported by PEACEPLUS a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).

From April 2025 up to December 2027 this comprehensive initiative is designed to build community capacity across Belfast city, impacting 1,000 individuals and community organisations who live and operate across the Belfast City Council area.

Be part of this transformative journey and help shape a stronger, more connected Belfast.