More than Your Voice: Practical Strategies for Speaking to Power

To register for this webinar please follow this link: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/9317547687295/WN_M58V1ItyTRyUUfaPInCniA. Sessions are free and available only to members of the Michigan library community. Registrants will receive instructions and a link to attend the session directly from PCI after they register.

What if speaking to power felt less like a risk and more like a skill you could grow? In this 60-minute session, Michelle Ornat shares practical strategies for engaging with positional power, such as those in leadership or decision-making roles, with insight and confidence.

The session begins by exploring how awareness is a strategic advantage and how successful conversations start with intention. You will discover how to “plate” a message, whether you are addressing problems or complaints, sharing updates or information, pitching new ideas or proposals, or raising concerns. This approach helps build trust, highlights credibility, and positions you as a thoughtful, solution-oriented leader.

Attendees will learn how to:

• Apply self, relational, and situational awareness to improve communication and outcomes
• Plate problems with solutions, frame updates with outcomes, and pitch ideas with purpose
• Deliver messages, especially sensitive ones, with clarity, structure, and professionalism

Who Will Benefit from this Program:

All Staff including Supervisors and Managers

Instructor: Michelle Ornat is a transformational coach, speaker, and founder of Ornat Coaching & Consulting. She brings more than two decades of leadership, executive, and management experience in public libraries and city government to her work with mission-driven women and organizations. She is a Certified Professional Coach, Energy Leadership Index™ (ELI) Master Practitioner, and Certified Executive Coach | COR.E Leadership Dynamics™ Specialist. Michelle actively supports public libraries through her involvement locally as a member of the Solano County Library Advisory Council and nationally through ALA, PLA, and Core, including co-chairing the Core Library Consulting Interest Group and serving on the PLA Leadership Development Committee. Connect with Michelle at www.ornatcoaching.com or on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-ornat.

PCI Webinars are recorded and available to members of the Michigan library community in the Library of Michigan's Niche Staff Skills Academy about a week after they air. New webinars will be in the New category for several weeks. You do not need to register for a webinar in order to view it later in the Staff Skills Academy.

This project is made possible by grant funds from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) administered by the State of Michigan through the Library of Michigan.