Start Date and Duration

6 sessions, Tuesdays and Thursdays
5/9/2023 - 5/25/2023
6 - 7:30 p.m.

Times

Each session is 1.5 hours

Location and Format

Online

Scope

1.3 CEUs

Non-Credit

Cost

Early Bird/Alumni Rate: $650 (ends 4/19)
Regular Rate: $750 (ends 4/28)

Scholarship Opportunity

Program Details

Today’s workplace actively seeks to employ individuals with diverse backgrounds, each bringing their unique skills, backgrounds, personalities and perspectives. This provides an enriched working environment for all. Yet, in a time where cultural, gender and intergenerational differences can manifest themselves in workplace disagreements and conflict, it has become more critical than ever that employees learn practical skills to manage and resolve conflict, ease tension that comes from unresolved conflict and seek ways to bridge differences to enhance inclusiveness and effectiveness in the workplace. This course provides tools to create an organizational culture and climate where everyone feels valued, respects fairness and equity and can manage and resolve conflict in ways that benefit all parties.

Format

This workshop takes place over three weeks, with two 1.5-hour sessions each week on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 6 - 7:30 p.m. The workshop is taught on Zoom and starts May 9, 2023.

As a weekly wrap-up, participants have a total of 1 hour combined reading and practical exercise (total time is 4 hours for course). Course materials are provided through email by the instructor.

Technology Requirements

Computer and the ability to communicate through Zoom.

Reinvent Your Career

This workshop is designed for employees, supervisors and students who want to enhance their skills in resolving workplace conflict. It helps provide you with the needed tools to ensure that unresolved conflict does not lead to disruption and/or serve as a detractor to professional development in the workplace. When conflict occurs, employees can feel devalued and stressed. Unresolved conflict can be perceived as harassment, bullying and discrimination and can lead to low morale, absenteeism, miscommunication and organizational mismanagement. Gain tools to resolve conflict as opposed to avoiding it, which often leads employees to feel angry and resentful at work and even avoid sensitive and challenging conversations, fearing making a mistake or being “called out” for their insensitivity. This workshop provides you with skills to ensure workplace conflict does not become a detractor to focusing on getting the job done, and ensures your contribution to building a more inclusive and respectful workplace climate.

What
You'll Learn

Whether you are an employee, supervisor or student, this workshop provides you with knowledge and skills in identifying and resolving workplace conflict, ensuring that all individuals are respected and valued and contributing to workplace inclusion. You will learn:

Identifying Conflict and How it Arises in the Workplace

  • Socialization Process
  • Work Style, Cultural Background and Communication Differences
  • Impact of Conflict on Workplace Climate and Effectiveness

Overcoming Our Own Biases Helps Overcoming Conflict

  • Identifying Implicit Bias
  • Mitigating Bias in Communication 
  • Working Toward Conflict-Free, Objective and Fair Decision-Making

Identifying Diverse Communities and Diverse Communication Styles

  • Accounting for Gender, Cultural and Inter-Generational Differences 
  • Examining Assertive, Non-Assertive and Aggressive Communication
  • Knowing What Communication Style to Use and When

Developing Strategies for Resolving Workplace Conflict

  • Engaging in Challenging and Sensitive Conversations (Race/Gender, Identity/Disability, etc.) 
  • Avoiding “Walking on Eggshells” and Learning How to Diffuse Defensiveness
  • Finding Commonality Among Differences—Moving Beyond your “Comfort Zone”

Utilizing Negotiation and Mediation Conflict Resolution Skills

  • Compromising to Meet Others’ Needs and Still Reach your Goals
  • Understanding and Using Formal and Informal Protocols 
  • Valuing Input from Everyone—Ensuring Equity and Respect for Differences 

Resolving Conflict and Building an Inclusive Workplace Climate

  • Understanding How Individual Communication Contributes to Organizational Culture
  • Identifying Strategic Organizational Approach and Role of Leadership
  • Defining Positive Workplace Climate and Building Inclusion Pre- and Post-Conflict

Instructor

Dr. Sue Guenter-Schlesinger is President of G-S Consulting LLC, after recently retiring from Western Washington University (WWU). During her nearly 17 years at WWU, she first served as Vice Provost for Equal Opportunity and Employment Diversity and her last two years as Special Assistant to the Provost for Education and Development, focusing on strategic diversity and inclusion initiatives. Much of her work has focused on conflict resolution and strategic communication approaches to navigate challenging equity and diversity situations. Previously, she served as Assistant Executive Vice President for Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action at Utah State University. Her career began directing the U.S. Army in Europe’s Equal Opportunity Program, located in Heidelberg, Germany. Dr. Guenter-Schlesinger has extensive experience in facilitating training, teaching and consulting on a wide array of accessibility, diversity, equity and inclusion topics and she has received numerous awards and honors for her work in these areas.

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