Christy Chiarelli
0000-0002-4839-5932

Specialist

AEC Profile

Publications

Leading Difficult Conversations Series #1: Introduction

Christy Chiarelli

This publication series examines strategies and tactics for leaders to utilize when tasked with having a difficult conversation. Leaders are often required to have necessary conversations that are not always easy. Difficult conversations are required in almost every context of our lives: personal relationships, work environments, and volunteer organizations, to name a few.

Leading Difficult Conversations Series #2: Preparing for the Conversation

Christy Chiarelli

In this Leading Difficult Conversations series, the first topic to explore is preparing for the conversation. The components of proper preparation include clearly defining the issue and considering the motive behind the conversation.

Leading Difficult Conversations Series #3: Creating a Safe Conversation Environment

Christy Chiarelli

Earlier in this publication series, the foundational principles of preparing for difficult conversations were established: (1) defining the issue and (2) determining your motive for the conversation. Once those principles are put into practice, the next phase of having a difficult conversation is creating a safe environment for the conversation. Components of creating a safe environment include recognizing a conversation's content and conditions, understanding the threats to a safe environment, and utilizing skills to overcome threats to restore safety.

Leading Difficult Conversations Series #4: Communication Styles under Stress

Christy Chiarelli

This new 3-page publication of the UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural Education and Communication focuses on helping leaders better understand their communication style when under stress. Even with adequate preparation, difficult conversations can still be stressful. By understanding their communication style under stress, leaders can better regulate their personal responses to ensure a productive conversation. Written by Christy C. Chiarelli.

Rahim Organizational Conflict Inventory: Instrumentation and Application for Extension Professionals

Christy Chiarelli, Anne Parrish, Megan Cantrell, and Matt Benge

Conflict is inevitable in workplaces among people of all ages. Extension professionals have a unique position where in a single workday they may be engage with youth and volunteers, as well as colleagues and supervisors. Extension professionals may experience conflict with their stakeholders, volunteers, and supervisors; therefore, they must be able to understand conflict and conflict styles to navigate tense situations. The Rahim Organizational Conflict Inventory (ROCI) is an instrument that can be used to understand one’s interpersonal conflict management style. By having a strong understanding of conflict components and for utilizing the ROCI tool, Extension professionals can manage conflict well and reduce the likelihood of dysfunctional conflict destroying relationships, teams, and organizations.

The Use of Reflection as an Effective Leadership Practice: An Introduction

Christy Chiarelli

The purpose of this publication is to emphasize the practice and importance of reflection for leaders. By highlighting reflective leadership, this publication aims to provide additional resources for leaders navigating their daily leadership responsibilities. This reflective leadership series discusses the importance of reflection, the benefits and barriers to employing reflective leadership, models of reflective leadership, and finally, suggested practices for implementing reflection into one’s leadership practice.

The Use of Reflection as an Effective Leadership Practice: An Overview of Two Reflection Models

Christy Chiarelli yAnne Parrish

Reflection is an important component of leadership, and developing a habit of reflection may lead to increased leadership effectiveness. This publication, which is part of The Use of Reflection as an Effective Leadership Practice series, aims to highlight models of reflection and demonstrate ways leaders can utilize frameworks to build reflective habits. Written by Christy Chiarelli and Anne Parrish, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural Education and Communication, December 2025.

thumbnail for publication: Utilizing Listening Sessions to Strengthen Educational Programming: An Introduction to Key Components and Best Practices

Utilizing Listening Sessions to Strengthen Educational Programming: An Introduction to Key Components and Best Practices

Maegan Beatty yChristy Chiarelli

This publication is the first in a two-part series focusing on listening sessions and their role in strengthening nonformal educational programming. This first article provides a brief overview of listening sessions and their key components. Written by Maegan Beatty and Christy Chiarelli, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural Education and Communication, October 2026.

Christy Chiarelli 0000-0002-4839-5932

Specialist

Publications

Leading Difficult Conversations Series #1: Introduction

Leading Difficult Conversations Series #2: Preparing for the Conversation

Leading Difficult Conversations Series #3: Creating a Safe Conversation Environment

Leading Difficult Conversations Series #4: Communication Styles under Stress

Rahim Organizational Conflict Inventory: Instrumentation and Application for Extension Professionals

The Use of Reflection as an Effective Leadership Practice: An Introduction

The Use of Reflection as an Effective Leadership Practice: An Overview of Two Reflection Models

Utilizing Listening Sessions to Strengthen Educational Programming: An Introduction to Key Components and Best Practices

Christy Chiarelli
0000-0002-4839-5932