**Reflective Reasoning: A Practical Framework for Better Conversations**
*with Doug Hensch*

When discussions get tense or deeply personal, people often retreat into defensiveness or double down on their positions. Yet with the right tools, these moments can be transformed into opportunities for insight and connection. Reflective Reasoning is a practical framework designed to help participants navigate difficult conversations by drawing from research in conflict resolution, negotiation, “street epistemology,” and motivational interviewing.

This interactive workshop introduces a simple, three-step model:

**Make it safe** \- Help others understand they won't be attacked or manipulated\.
**Ask for their beliefs** – Invite others to share their thoughts.
**Scale their confidence** – Explore the level of confidence behind that belief without judgment.
**Know** – Understand how they arrived at their perspective by uncovering reasoning and evidence.

Through live demonstration, guided practice, and peer coaching, participants will learn how to apply the ASK model to real-world situations. The session balances brief teaching with hands-on practice, ensuring that participants walk away with both conceptual clarity and applied skill.

**Learning Outcomes**
By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:

1. Apply the ASK model to de-escalate difficult conversations.
2. Use curiosity and open-ended questions to strengthen dialogue and trust.
3. Recognize how reflective reasoning promotes mutual understanding, even in the face of disagreement.
4. Practice techniques from motivational interviewing to encourage self-reflection in others.

**Who Should Attend**
Leaders, managers, facilitators, coaches, and anyone who wants to navigate challenging conversations with confidence, empathy, and skill.

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**Doug Hensch** is an executive coach, author, and speaker who helps leaders grow through humility, curiosity, and connection. He has worked with top organizations like PwC, Hilton, Freddie Mac, and the National Institutes of Health, guiding executives and teams to strengthen resilience, problem-solving, and leadership skills. Earlier in his career, he led Nextel’s eCare efforts, saving the company over $10 million annually, and later launched a self-improvement platform that reached more than 100,000 people. He’s also the author of three books, including Positively Resilient, Re-Thinking Humility, and Re-Thinking Curiosity. His fourth book is scheduled to launch in 2026 and will be a sort of daily devotional for leaders. Doug is based in Leesburg, Virginia, and is a diehard Buffalo Bills and Boston Red Sox fan. Go Bills!

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NOVA Scribes has entered into a partnership with the IFVP: the International Forum of Visual Practitioners! This workshop is part of IFVP Learning.

This workshop will be recorded and posted on YouTube for anyone who cannot attend. You can find the YouTube link in the Comments section of this NOVA Scribes Meetup event once the workshop video has been uploaded to YouTube.

We’re not charging for this workshop, but we will be asking for donations! Donations cover the costs of hosting events on Meetup, to honorariums for new graphic recorders, and scholarships.

Please be sure you are registered on Meetup! If your Zoom name doesn’t match your name on Meetup, you will not be admitted. (We’ve had Zoom bombers.)

Brian Tarallo

Doug Hensch

NOVA Scribes

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Reflective Reasoning: A Framework for Better Conversations, Doug Hensch

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