Conflict is a natural part of any social system.

But rather than letting our teammates settle into disconnect and distance, what if we had the confidence and capacity to transform the conflict back into connection?

It can be exhausting and costly when our heartfelt collaborative pursuits get derailed by misunderstandings and disagreements.

But although conflicts are never going to completely disappear, we can get better at addressing them together - and even start to enjoy them - with just a few basic conflict mediation skills.

By helping each other unravel what’s meant that’s not said, and what’s said that’s not meant, conflicts can become doorways to deeper understanding and creativity, and more productive teamwork.

Why This Course?

Developing your capacity to respond to conflict becomes a gift for everyone in the workplace when you can help your collaborators to:

• Find reconnection and restoration after breaks in trust

• Transform conflict into sources of learning and take mutually agreed upon positive actions

• Develop trust, courage, creativity and depth for more cooperative and productive teamwork

• Develop skills for healthy communication and collaboration

• Build healthier work relationships to save time and energy in your workflows and function more effectively as an organisation

What We’ll Cover

In these 5 sessions, we’ll explore the first steps to supporting your team through difficult conversations or restorative dialogues, and foster a conflict-responsive culture at work. We’ll cover:

• How to incorporate mediation as part of your team’s conflict transformation system or protocol

• The role of a mediator and tips for ‘sticking your nose in’

• Getting involved without getting entangled

• Transforming judgments and blame

• Helping everyone express and hear each other’s experience and needs  

• Identifying clear “doable” requests and agreements that are mutually satisfying to both parties

• Nervous system regulation practices to centre yourself and the people you’re supporting

The principles and frameworks in this course are predominantly based on the work of Marshall Rosenberg’s Nonviolent Communication, and Restorative Systems. You’ll be invited to practice with your own real-life scenarios or made-up roleplays.

By the end of the course you’ll have clear skills and frameworks for helping your collaborators work better together. As an added bonus, you’ll be better equipped to restore connection in a dialogue between yourself and anyone you come into conflict with!

What You’ll Get

• 🙌 Hands-on Learning: in a participatory context with interactive exercises — this is far from your average lecture series

• 🤓 Real-World Wisdom: we bring inside tips and advice from our own mediation experience

• 🛠️ Practical Tools and Guides: You’ll be able to bring these methods and practices directly into your teamwork

• 🤝 Peer Support: Bounce ideas, share concerns, and co-create solutions

• 🫶 Trauma-informed guidance: We emphasise consent (everything is optional) and offer practical suggestions to help you stay in your window of tolerance for discomfort and intentionally venture into new challenges without overriding your own boundaries

Testimonials

“I really enjoyed the course - it was bite-sized, doable, the pacing felt good, the introduction to the concepts, the videos beforehand... in the practice time it felt safe but you could also be edgy. We could name the degree of challenge we want, and that made me feel more comfortable. After the course I feel ready to step into the role of conflict mediator. I feel equipped now. As an outcome it’s nice to feel, I could do this!”, Elise Ford, Sonder Collective

“I appreciated having the frameworks and fundamentals to break down the process and rationale behind each mediation "step", as well as opportunities to practise. Hearing other participants’ experience and perspective about what helped them, what landed well or didn't land well (especially during role plays) was very helpful.”

Anonymous course participant

“Meeting with people from across the world provided a fabulous insight into how different cultures view and respond to conflict. Realising that you share similar experiences, and speaking openly about them is quite freeing.”

Amanda, Programme Manager, Alliance for Better Care CIC

Who Is This For?

This course is for anyone working in a collaborative team who’s ready to learn the basics of conflict facilitation and transform tension into connection. If you’re a coach or a mentor, this course will show you how to bring out the best in your teams.

Spaces are limited, so book now to guarantee your place.

Schedule

We will meet for 5x 90min calls on Zoom, at 6-7:30pm CET on 5 consecutive Mondays, November 18th to December 16th.

Session 1 was a “Free Taster”: if you weren't able to attend we'll share the recording when you sign up for the course.

The calls will be recorded and shared with all participants.

Between calls you will also receive a short 10 - 20 minute video introducing an element of theory to watch in your own time. The video content will form the basis for the practice(s) during the session.

Tickets

To make this workshop more accessible we have a tiered ticket pricing of €200/ €250/ €300. Please choose the ticket price according to your financial circumstances. 

We provide part and full scholarships for people working on social impact projects. If you would like to apply please fill in this form, and we will be in touch.