Cohort 3 begins
Friction is inevitable. Conflict is optional. Traction is cultivated.
Most of us meet friction with a reflex: we avoid it or we attack it. This 3-month, ICF-accredited certificate program builds the capacity to do something different. You'll learn to stay present in the Messy Middle, the space between the walls of Avoid and Attack, where real conversations happen and forward movement becomes possible.
It's designed for coaches, leaders, and facilitators who want to use Fruitful Friction® with their teams, clients, and boards.
With:
Hilary Blair, MFA, CSP
Robin Miller, PhD, PCC
Courtney Cauthon, PhD, ACC
The Program at a Glance
Format
3-month cohort-based certificate, 36 total hours
Live virtual sessions
8 sessions, Tuesdays 7 to 9am MT January 26 through March 16, 2027
In-person capstone
March 22 and 23, 2027, at the ARTiculateRC Studio in Denver 8:30am - 4:30pm MT
ICF credit
34 CCE units (Core Competencies: 26.00 Resource Development: 8.00)
On-demand e-learning
6 months of access on LeaderPass
12 participants
Maximum cohort size
The Fruitful Friction® Certificate Program is designed for professionals who want to bring this work into the conversations they already lead.
- Coaches: Use Fruitful Friction® to help clients stay engaged when perspectives, needs, or priorities differ.
- Leaders: Create conversations where people can challenge thinking, surface what they're seeing, and stay connected.
- Facilitators & Consultants: Build a practical framework for working with groups when there are competing perspectives, ideas, or priorities in the room.
- HR & People Leaders: Develop shared language and practices that support candid conversation, connection, and forward movement.
Fruitful Friction gave me a fresh way to approach tricky conversations and differing ideas. Instead of avoiding conflict or trying to fix it right away, I learned how to stay in the conversation, where real change can happen.
Paula Jensen, Human Resources Professional
Hilary Blair
Certified Professional Speaker (CSP) & Organizational Relationship Coach
LeaderPass Expert
Hilary Blair is a keynote speaker (CSP), champion of human connection, and the CEO of ARTiculate: Real&Clear . She is impassioned by moving beyond habits and learned behaviors to uncover what is unique and authentic in individuals and groups. A presentation and speaking voice expert, Hilary is a highly regarded coach and facilitator working extensively across the globe with a variety of businesses including Maersk, Starbucks, Slalom, and Amazon Web Services.
MoreWe always notice changed behavior after Hilary's programs — our participants are more authentic and she’s always a highlight in our leadership programs.
Amy Blair, Chief People OfficerLiberty Global
Fruitful Friction gave me a fresh way to approach tricky conversations and differing ideas. Instead of avoiding conflict or trying to “fix” it right away, I learned how to stay in the conversation, where real change can happen. The tools I learned will help me stay engaged, find traction and encourage open participation even when opinions differ.
Paula Jensen, Human Resources Professional
Hilary had everybody at the edge of their seats, participating, laughing and learning things we had never heard of before.
Setareh Ziai MD, Canadian Women in Medicine
The Learning Experience
Learn
Build your understanding of the Fruitful Friction® framework, language, and toolkit.
Practice
Bring real conversations you're navigating now. Experiment with the tools, work with your cohort, and receive coaching and feedback.
Embody
Put the work into practice in your own leadership, coaching, or facilitation—and integrate what you've learned during the in-person capstone.
What you'll be able to do
- Notice friction early and stay present in your own real conversations, cultivating traction instead of reacting
- Facilitate Fruitful Friction® with your teams, clients, and boards
- Create spaces where honest disagreement moves ideas, collaboration, and innovation forward
- Move from awareness to practice, so a new way of showing up holds under pressure
Fruitful Friction® Certificate Program
Join Our Next Cohort
Most communication programs start once a conversation has already turned hard or tipped into crisis. This one starts earlier, in the Messy Middle: the space between the walls of Avoid and Attack, where real conversations happen and forward movement becomes possible. Over three months, you’ll practice staying present in that space using your own real scenarios, live coaching, and a cohort doing the same work alongside you.
What's included
The complete Fruitful Friction® framework and toolkit, including the five Tend activators: Embodiment and Breath, Tone Before Content, Acknowledge and Respond, Transparency, and Story, Emotion, Fact.
-
Real Play Coaching
Bring the conversations you're navigating right now. Work them live with the facilitators and your cohort. -
Facilitation Practice
Learn how to use Fruitful Friction® not only for yourself, but with teams, clients, leaders, and boards. -
Peer Practice
Small-group working sessions give you space to experiment, practice, and learn between live sessions. -
LeaderPass Access
On-demand e-learning, workbooks, resources, and your personal notes space, available for six months. -
Denver Capstone
Two days of in-person practice and integration at the ARTiculateRC Studio. -
Fruitful Friction® Certificate
Earn the Fruitful Friction&ereg; Certificate upon successful completion of the program.
Join Cohort 3
January 26 – March 23, 2027
Early bird special
$
2,950
One-time payment
$
2,330
One-time payment, no recurring charges. Refund policy
or 4 installments of
$
600
/mo
This will take you to an external payment page where you can set up your four-month subscription.
Can't make it to this Cohort? Join us for the next one in tbd.
Not ready for the full Certificate?
Fruitful Friction® is also available as a Quick Start or Foundations experience for teams and organizations.
Schedule a callHilary created a space where we could explore challenging conversations, strengthen collaboration, and build trust in a meaningful way. We walked away with practical tools and new perspectives that we were able to apply immediately. I highly recommend ARTiculate for any team looking to grow, communicate better, and work through difficult topics with confidence. Awesome experience and world-class facilitation!
Steve BunchRedwire
Most training focuses on models, templates and processes, ARTiculateRC focuses on each individual, helping us to bring who we are as humans and be accepting of coaching on specific areas. ARTiculateRC creates a non-threatening way of building on your unique capabilities, and distinct learning of new practices to make meaningful change.
Quinn SlaughterTotal Solutions 1st
The presentation was sharp and enthusiastic, and the material felt FRESH! I highly recommend this training!
Michael BuckleyMichael Buckley Coaching