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Debra Lassman

This course teaches leaders how to recognize the signs of escalating conflict and take appropriate action to minimize damage. Leaders are introduced to two resolution tactics—coach and mediate—and practice using the Interaction Essentials as they coach then negotiate to resolve a conflict.

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • At the end of this course, the learner will be able to:
  • Reduce the damaging effects of workplace conflict on individuals, groups, and the organization
  • Effectively address workplace conflict and enhance productivity, efficiency, and morale
  • Help others take responsibility for resolving their conflicts
  • Promote a culture of trust and mutual respect within their workgroup

Syllabus

Accountability and Conflict: Facilitator introduces the course and leads a discussion of the stages of the conflict. Learners build the Accountability Matrix, a construct that identifies behaviors that help leaders to either facilitate or enable conflict and employees to either take ownership or avoid resolution of conflict. Learners reflect on a series of questions about how well they promote conflict resolution.
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Introduces coaching and mediation tactics, which are valuable for leaders aiming to resolve workplace disputes effectively
Develops skills in building an Accountability Matrix, which helps leaders facilitate conflict resolution and encourage employee ownership
Emphasizes empathy and involvement, which are key principles in addressing the personal needs of employees during conflict
Explores the difference between coaching and negotiating, providing tips for successful mediation, which is useful for de-escalating conflict
Requires learners to reflect on how well they promote conflict resolution, which may require a degree of self-awareness and introspection

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Reviews summary

Practical workplace conflict resolution skills

According to learners, this course provides highly practical skills and strategies for resolving workplace conflict. Many find the course content, particularly the focus on coaching and mediation tactics, to be immediately applicable in their professional roles. Key frameworks like the Accountability Matrix and Interaction Essentials are frequently highlighted as particularly useful tools. Reviewers appreciate the course's clear structure and engaging delivery, often citing the video scenarios and facilitator as strong points. While primarily geared towards professionals, students across various backgrounds report gaining valuable insights for improving communication and relationships at work. It's often seen as a strong foundation for effectively navigating challenging interpersonal situations.
Excellent starting point for learning skills.
"A great introduction to conflict resolution principles."
"Provides a solid base for anyone new to managing workplace disputes."
"Useful as a starting point before tackling highly complex organizational conflicts."
"The course covers the fundamentals thoroughly."
Well-organized modules and engaging videos.
"The course is well-structured and easy to follow."
"Videos and examples were very clear and illustrated concepts effectively."
"The facilitator does an excellent job explaining complex ideas simply."
"Content flows logically from one concept to the next."
"Enjoyed the real-world scenarios shown in the videos."
Introduces key models and essentials.
"The Accountability Matrix is a game-changer for understanding roles in conflict."
"Interaction Essentials provides a clear guide for difficult conversations."
"Understanding the difference between coaching and mediating was very helpful."
"The models presented offer a solid structure for conflict resolution discussions."
"Found the frameworks easy to grasp and remember."
Provides tactics usable in real situations.
"I can apply these strategies right away in my job."
"The techniques for coaching and mediation are incredibly practical and easy to understand."
"I learned actionable steps to address conflict instead of avoiding it."
"This course gave me the tools I needed to handle a difficult situation at work."
"Excellent practical advice on resolving disagreements."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Resolving Workplace Conflict with these activities:
Review 'Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most'
Learn strategies for handling difficult conversations to better prepare for coaching and mediating conflict situations.
Show steps
  • Read the book, focusing on the sections about understanding different perspectives.
  • Identify key takeaways related to empathy and active listening.
  • Reflect on how these strategies can be applied to workplace scenarios.
Practice Active Listening Skills
Improve your ability to understand and respond effectively to others, which is crucial for both coaching and mediation.
Browse courses on Active Listening
Show steps
  • Find a partner and engage in a conversation.
  • Focus on truly understanding their perspective before responding.
  • Summarize their points to ensure accurate comprehension.
  • Ask clarifying questions to gain deeper insights.
Role-Play Coaching Scenarios
Gain practical experience in applying coaching techniques to resolve simulated workplace conflicts.
Show steps
  • Partner with another student from the course.
  • Develop realistic workplace conflict scenarios.
  • Take turns playing the roles of coach and employee in conflict.
  • Provide constructive feedback to each other.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Review 'The Mediation Process: Practical Strategies for Resolving Conflict'
Deepen your understanding of mediation techniques and strategies to enhance your ability to facilitate conflict resolution.
Show steps
  • Read the book, focusing on the different stages of the mediation process.
  • Identify key strategies for facilitating productive discussions.
  • Reflect on how these strategies can be applied to workplace mediation scenarios.
Develop a Conflict Resolution Guide
Synthesize course concepts and create a practical guide for resolving conflicts, reinforcing your understanding and providing a valuable resource for others.
Show steps
  • Outline the key steps in conflict resolution.
  • Describe different conflict resolution tactics.
  • Provide examples of effective communication techniques.
  • Include tips for promoting a culture of trust and respect.
Implement a Conflict Resolution Strategy
Apply the skills and knowledge gained in the course to address a real-world conflict situation, demonstrating your ability to effectively resolve workplace disputes.
Show steps
  • Identify a conflict situation in your workplace.
  • Assess the situation and determine the appropriate resolution tactic.
  • Implement the chosen strategy and monitor the results.
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of the strategy and make adjustments as needed.
Mentor junior colleagues
Reinforce your understanding of conflict resolution by guiding junior colleagues through conflict situations, solidifying your knowledge and improving your leadership skills.
Show steps
  • Offer guidance to junior colleagues facing workplace conflicts.
  • Share your knowledge of conflict resolution techniques.
  • Provide support and encouragement as they navigate challenging situations.

Career center

Learners who complete Resolving Workplace Conflict will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Mediator
Mediators facilitate discussions between conflicting parties to reach a resolution, often in legal or organizational settings. This course provides practical mediation techniques that anyone in this field can apply immediately. The skills to coach through conflict and mediate a path to resolution are core concepts of this course. Anyone who wants to pursue mediation as a career would find this course incredibly useful. The practice sessions included in the course may be particularly relevant.
Ombudsman
An ombudsman acts as a neutral party to resolve disputes and ensure fair practices within an organization. This course helps anyone in this role to effectively coach and mediate conflicts. The focus on empathy and involvement, as covered in the course, is central to the work of an ombudsman. The course can help an ombudsman maintain neutrality and resolve conflicts successfully.
Employee Relations Manager
An employee relations manager is often responsible for addressing workplace issues and conflict. This course provides essential skills for managing disputes, such as techniques for coaching and mediation. Understanding the stages of conflict, as covered in the course, can be invaluable for employee relations managers who need to resolve issues that arise day to day. The course also helps these managers foster a culture of trust and mutual respect.
Conflict Resolution Consultant
A conflict resolution consultant works with organizations to assess conflict situations, facilitate resolutions, and train employees on conflict management. This course provides the coaching and mediation tactics that a consultant needs to be effective. Anyone in this field benefits from an understanding of the stages of conflict. The ability to build an accountability matrix that identifies enabling behaviors is also useful for anyone in this role.
Team Leader
A team leader is often the first point of contact when team conflicts arise. This course on resolving workplace conflict equips team leaders with the skills to address disputes constructively. The course will help them coach team members through conflict, use mediation techniques, and foster a more cooperative working environment. The coaching skill practice sessions in this course are particularly useful. These skills also help team leaders strengthen their commitment to resolving conflicts.
Customer Service Manager
Customer service managers often need to handle agitated customers and mediate difficult conversations. This course provides the skills needed to manage disputes and de-escalate conflict. The ability to coach and mediate will help any customer service manager succeed. The techniques for addressing emotional and practical concerns will be particularly useful in this role. The course also emphasizes communication skills which are useful for customer service managers.
Human Resources Specialist
A Human Resources Specialist often addresses employee relations issues, making conflict resolution a crucial part of their role. This course, with its emphasis on coaching and mediating conflict, provides practical skills for managing workplace disputes and fostering a more positive environment. A human resources specialist must understand how to facilitate conversations and this course gives opportunities to practice doing just that. The accountability matrix is particularly relevant for those who wish to understand the causes of conflict and ways to resolve it.
Group Facilitator
Group facilitators guide discussions and activities in group settings, often needing to manage conflicts. This course provides facilitators with practical skills for managing disputes constructively and promoting collaboration. The course's approach of coaching and mediating is useful for this role. The ability to create a positive environment based on the skills acquired in this course is invaluable for anyone who moderates a meeting or leads a group.
Operations Manager
Operations managers oversee daily business operations and must ensure a productive and harmonious work environment. This course, focused on conflict resolution, provides operations managers with tools to manage disputes that may arise among staff or between departments. This course will equip operations managers to address these disputes and encourage a culture of trust. The course's emphasis on addressing practical and personal needs is highly relevant.
Training and Development Specialist
Training and development specialists design and deliver programs that improve employee skills and workplace dynamics, often including initiatives around conflict resolution. This course offers a clear path to understanding how to manage and resolve conflict, which is invaluable. The focus on coaching and mediation gives a training and development specialist useful and practical techniques that can be incorporated into programs. The material in the course may also be shared with others.
Nonprofit Program Manager
Nonprofit program managers oversee initiatives and teams, often encountering conflict within their staff or with the populations they serve. This course provides approaches for managing conflict constructively and helps to create a collaborative work environment. The course’s approach of understanding both practical and personal needs may be useful here. The coaching sessions and tips for mediation will help a nonprofit program manager succeed.
Project Manager
Project managers coordinate teams and ensure projects stay on track, often navigating conflicts between team members and stakeholders. This course helps project managers utilize coaching and mediation techniques, which are useful for managing tensions that can arise in project teams. Project managers who take this course will be better equipped to recognize the signs of conflict, minimizing damage and promoting productivity. The focus on open ended questions will be useful in their day to day work.
Social Worker
Social workers often encounter conflict in their interactions with clients, families, and other stakeholders. This course provides valuable conflict resolution skills that can be applied to diverse social work settings. The course emphasizes empathy and meeting individual needs, which are essential skills for social work. The ability to coach and mediate will help any social worker navigate difficult conversations effectively.
Community Organizer
Community organizers work with diverse groups of people, often encountering different viewpoints and conflicts. This course provides skills for managing community disagreements and promoting effective communication. The focus on open ended questions and empathy will be useful in this role. The course’s approach to mediation can help community organizers to resolve conflicts peacefully and productively within a community.
Counselor
Counselors regularly engage with individuals experiencing conflict, both internal and external. This course's focus on coaching and mediation provides techniques that are directly applicable to counseling sessions. The emphasis on empathy and understanding personal needs is crucial for anyone in a counseling role. Skills developed here may help counselors more effectively guide individuals toward their own solutions. The focus on open ended questions may help counselors to be more effective in their work.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Resolving Workplace Conflict.
Provides a framework for understanding and navigating difficult conversations, which is directly applicable to resolving workplace conflict. It offers practical advice on how to approach sensitive topics, manage emotions, and find common ground. The book valuable resource for anyone looking to improve their communication skills and build stronger relationships in the workplace. It is often used as a reference by HR professionals and managers.
Offers a comprehensive guide to the mediation process, providing practical strategies for resolving conflict in various settings. It covers the key stages of mediation, from preparation to agreement, and offers guidance on how to facilitate productive discussions. This book is particularly useful for understanding the nuances of mediation and developing effective negotiation skills. It is commonly used by mediators and conflict resolution professionals.

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