At Cumberland Lodge, we offer thought-provoking workshops designed to help participants critically reflect on the moral, cultural, and political dimensions of today’s most pressing challenges.
Our 90-minute interactive sessions foster respectful dialogue, ethical decision-making, and inclusive leadership – essential skills in an increasingly polarised world.
Whether you’re a school, university, business, or community group, our workshops can be tailored to your needs and delivered on-site at Cumberland Lodge, or at your preferred location.
Explore our core sessions below, or contact our Programme Team to design a custom professional development workshop for your group.
Our workshops
Disagreeing Well
Dialogue and debate is at the heart of what we do. We argue, we disagree, but we aim to disagree well. In an era of polarised politics and social media echo chambers, communicating with others who hold different views and values is a vital skill. This interactive workshop helps participants:
- understand how personal values shape communication styles and content
- recognise different approaches to conflict and disagreement
- develop strategies to ‘elegantly challenge’ differences of opinion with respect.
Ideal for: Teams, educators, students, and leaders seeking to improve constructive workplace communication.
Exploring Ethics
Ethics influence every aspect of our personal and professional lives – yet we rarely pause to examine them. Using interactive and reflexive activities, in this ethical decision-making workshop participants will be challenged to think about:
- their own ethical frameworks and where they come from
- the barriers to ‘doing good’ or making ‘good’ decisions
- how we might navigate ethical differences with colleagues.
This content is applied to real-world case studies. At the end of the session, participants will:
- deepen their understanding of ethical frameworks and their application to everyday decision-making and leadership
- identify barriers and biases in ethical decision making
- develop strategies to navigate ethical differences in diverse teams.
Customisable themes include:
- artificial intelligence (AI)
- democratic governance
- free speech
- international development and humanitarian access
- leadership
- research practice
Perfect for: Professionals, researchers, students and organisations facing complex ethical dilemmas in the workplace.
Navigating Differences
Living in complex, culturally diverse societies where debates on national values and identity can generate conflict, this workshop focuses on:
- understanding cultural differences and their origins
- their impact on communication, leadership, and teamwork
- how we can negotiate moving forward together.
At the end of the session, participants will:
- increase their understanding of what culture is and how it impacts our relationships and workplace
develop strategies to manage emotional responses to difference
practice skills for effective work in diverse settings
analyse strategies to enhance social cohesion
Great for: Businesses, educators, students and community leaders committed to building inclusive organisations.
From Debate to Dialogue
While we may assume that communication is a single skill, we regularly switch between different styles of speaking and listening. Being intentional about the communication styles we use can shift our relationship with others and open possibilities for change.
This interactive workshop asks participants to step into three modes of communication: debate, discussion and dialogue. Through this they can feel the contrasts and reflect on the uses and limitations of each style.
Participants will:
- Uncover their communication preferences and the values that inform them
- Reflect on the uses and limits of each style in different settings
- Learn how deliberately switching communication modes can transform conflict and open creative solutions
Why choose Cumberland Lodge?
In light of a perceived decline in democracy globally, we explore questions such as:
- Expert-led, interactive workshops
- Flexible delivery to suit your needs
- Real-world applications for personal and professional growth
Find out more
Contact our Programme Team to discuss a tailored session: programmeteam@cumberlandlodge.ac.uk
Sessions are available at Cumberland Lodge in Windsor Great Park in Berkshire, or your chosen venue.