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More than Your Voice: Practical Strategies for Speaking to Power
December 17, 2025 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm CST
This webinar is offered exclusively to PLAN member libraries and their staff.
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
About the Presenter: 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.
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Please note: If you use assistive technology and the format of any material present within this training site interferes with your ability to access information, please email [email protected]. In your correspondence, please indicate the nature of your accessibility issue, the preferred format in which to receive the material, the online course title, and your contact information.
This project has been funded under the provisions of the Library Cooperative Grant program, which is administered by the Florida Department of State’s Division of Library and Information Services.