High-Stakes Conversations Require High-Level Skills
Your teams face high-stakes conversations every day — with clients, colleagues, opposing counsel, and regulators. The difference between a good outcome and a costly one often comes down to how well your people communicate, negotiate, and manage conflict.
Colleen Byers designs and delivers training programs that give professionals the practical skills they need to navigate difficult conversations, negotiate more effectively, and build stronger working relationships. Whether you need a single workshop, a multi-part curriculum, or a full certification program, Colleen works directly with your organization to build something that fits.
CUSTOM CORPORATE TRAINING
Customized programs on communication, negotiation, and mediation skills for leaders.
Available in half-day, full-day, and multi-part series formats, in-person or virtual, or a combination.
CONTINUING EDUCATION (CE/CLE)
Bespoke programs on communication, negotiation, and mediation skills for managers — designed around your industry, your culture, and your team's specific needs. Available in half-day, full-day, and multi-part series formats, in-person or virtual.
MEDIATOR TRAINING
Through the NC Center for Mediation and together with co-trainers Frank Laney and Sean Vitrano, Colleen Byers offers 16-hour and 40-hour training for both the NC Superior Court Mediation Program (MSC) and Family Financial Mediation Program (FFS).
Why Colleen Byers
Academic Rigor and Real-World Experience
Colleen brings a rare combination of credentials that few trainers can match:
- Adjunct Professor of Law — Colleen teaches Negotiation at the law school level, meaning she doesn't just practice these skills — she teaches the theory and science behind them with academic precision.
- JD + MBA — Her dual graduate training gives her fluency across the legal, business, and financial contexts your teams operate in every day.
- NCDRC Certified Mediator — Superior Court & Family Financial, Clerk of Court, Special Proceedings, Estates & Guardianship
- Named 2020 Lawyer of the Year — Recognized for excellence in the legal profession before focusing her practice on conflict resolution and training.
- Trained professionals from Fortune 500 companies, AmLaw 200 firms, state bar associations, and regional financial institutions.
Training Topics
Core Training Areas
Colleen designs programs across four interconnected disciplines. These can be delivered as standalone workshops or combined into a cohesive multi-part curriculum.
- Communication - Giving your teams the tools to have difficult conversations — with clients, colleagues, and direct reports — with clarity, confidence, and less conflict. Programs are grounded in behavioral science and designed to change how people actually show up in their hardest conversations.
- Negotiation - From everyday client interactions to high-stakes deal-making, Colleen teaches the evidence-based strategies that lead to better outcomes. Drawing on her experience as an adjunct negotiation professor and active mediator, she brings both theory and applied practice to every session.
- Mediation Skills - Understanding how mediation works — and how to use mediation skills — makes lawyers, advisors, and managers more effective. These programs are especially valuable for legal and financial services teams who regularly navigate disputes on behalf of clients.
- Coaching Skills for Managers - Equipping your managers with coaching frameworks that improve team performance, reduce interpersonal conflict, and build a culture of accountability and trust.
Mediator Training
Through the NC Center for Mediation and together with co-trainers Frank Laney and Sean Vitrano, Colleen enjoys co-leading several mediator training programs each year. If you are an attorney or other professional who wishes to begin or expand your mediation practice in North Carolina, this is an opportunity to train with experienced practitioners. These trainings are conducted virtually via Zoom.
- Superior Court Mediation Training - Both 16-hour and 40-hour training programs, which (among other prerequisites outlined in Rule 8) qualify participants to apply for certification with the NC Dispute Resolution Commission (DRC) in the Superior Court Mediation Program (MSC) in North Carolina.
- Family Financial Mediation Training - Both 16-hour and 40-hour training programs, which (among other prerequisites outlined in Rule 8) qualify participants to apply for certification with the NC Dispute Resolution Commission (DRC) in the Family Financial Settlement Mediation Program (FFS) in North Carolina.
The Path to Mediation Certification in North Carolina
PUBLISHED IN THE NORTH CAROLINA STATE BAR JOURNAL
Understanding the certification process is often the first step for professionals considering mediation as part of their practice. In this article, Frank Laney and Colleen Byers explain the certification pathways, qualifications, and practical realities of becoming a mediator in North Carolina.
Representative Programs
Custom Training & Continuing Education Programs Designed and Delivered
A sample of programs Colleen has designed and delivered for private sector clients:
"The Science and Art of Negotiation"
Alta Pro Insurance Services
"4 Habits to Facilitate Difficult Conversations with Clients, Counsel and Colleagues"
"6 Habits of Highly Effective Commercial Negotiators"
Wisconsin State Bar
"Essential Business Skills for Busy Lawyers"
A 4-part mini-MBA for lawyers
"Facilitating Difficult Conversations – 3 Steps to Better Communication Across Your Teams"
A 6-part training delivered to two cohorts of a financial institution
"10 Tools for Better Communicating and Collaborating"
A 2-part training for an AmLaw 200 firm
The Secret Key to Unlock Conflict : Tilted Bench Ep24
Getting Out of Our Own Way: Overcoming Self-Sabotage in Negotiations
Featured Guest on Negotiate Anything Podcast (June 2022)
Guided Meditation
Let's Build Something for Your Team
Whether you're looking for a one-time workshop or a comprehensive multi-part training initiative, Colleen will work with you to design a program that addresses your team's real challenges and delivers measurable results.
CLE credit and continuing education credit available for qualifying programs.
