Conflict at work is inevitable – but it doesn’t have to be insurmountable. This 4.5-hour live interactive training introduces the core principles and practical tools of the Understanding-based approach to resolving workplace conflict. Whether you’re an HR leader, manager, consultant, attorney, or team member, this workshop provides a meaningful starting point for navigating challenging dynamics and building stronger professional relationships.

Why This Training

Workplace conflict often stems not from what is said, but from what goes unspoken. This training helps participants move beyond surface-level fixes and into the heart of what drives conflict. You’ll learn to slow down, understand what’s really happening – for yourself and others – and engage more effectively with the people and systems around you.

What You’ll Learn

• How to build trust and connection in the face of disagreement
• Ways to address early-stage conflict before it escalates
• Techniques to de-escalate tense situations with clarity and compassion
• A deeper understanding of how personal awareness shapes professional communication
• Real-world practice through role plays, reflection, and group exercises

Who Should Attend

This training is designed for professionals at all levels who are ready to engage workplace conflict in a more effective and human-centered way. Whether you’re in leadership, support, or team-based roles, this course delivers practical value you can apply immediately and build on over time.

HR professionals, managers and team leads will gain frameworks to handle complex interpersonal dynamics and leave with new tools to address tension early, reduce misunderstandings, and shift from managing conflict to facilitating resolution. Outcomes include stronger team cohesion, greater morale, and fewer disruptions to productivity.

Consultants and executive coaches will deepen their ability to support clients and colleagues in navigating high-stakes conversations. The Understanding-based model offers a durable alternative to adversarial approaches, with strong relevance for internal workplace matters.

Employees and cross-functional team members will gain confidence and clarity in how to address issues directly and constructively, even without formal authority. This empowers healthier work cultures and more resilient communication.

Why it Matters

Organizations lose time, money, and talent when conflict is mismanaged or ignored. This training delivers a strong return on investment by helping participants:

• Reduce time spent on repeated, unresolved conflicts
• Increase engagement and trust among coworkers
• Retain high-performing staff through better communication
• Build a more responsive and humane workplace culture

Participants consistently tell us this training transforms how they see and handle conflict – not just at work, but in every part of life. It is a powerful foundation for anyone seeking to make conflict less costly and more meaningful.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

1. Identify and apply the six core principles of the Understanding-based approach
2. Use specific techniques to address emerging and high-tension workplace conflicts
3. Recognize different conflict styles and adapt strategies for collaboration
4. Begin integrating personal awareness into conflict resolution practices

Format & Details

Date & Time: September 12, 2025, 9:00 AM – 1:30 PM Pacific Time (includes two 15-minute breaks)

Location: Live Online (Zoom)

Cost: $250

CE Credits: 4 hours submitted for SHRM & HRCI approval

No prerequisites required

This course is a prerequisite for advanced programs in the Understanding Workplace Conflict series.

Cancellation Policy

This training is not refundable, though a credit may be applied to a future program if transferred 30 days in advance of program start.

About the Center

Since 1982, the Center for Understanding in Conflict has trained more than 10,000 professionals worldwide, including leaders from the Harvard Law School Program on Negotiation, Intel Corporation, Roche, SAP and the World Intellectual Property Organization. Our approach is rooted in real-world practice, human connection, and the belief that conflict can be a doorway to transformation.

Trainers

Helen Chen is a mediator, trainer, and conflict coach with deep expertise in workplace conflict. A former employment attorney at Advancing Justice – Asian Law Caucus, she represented workers in areas ranging from retaliation to occupational safety. She later trained both employers and employees across sectors through the Labor Occupational Health Program at UC Berkeley. Today, Helen supports organizations through mediation and conflict coaching, with a focus on improving work relationships and conditions. She is based in the San Francisco Bay Area and trained in mediation by the Center for Understanding in Conflict and others.

Catherine Conner has trained mediators and collaborative professionals since 2004, bringing decades of real-world experience in conflict resolution. Her private practice focuses on family law mediation and collaborative practice, and she brings her strong background in alternate dispute resolution into the workplace setting. She is a founding partner at her law firm and has been recognized nationally for her excellence in the field. Catherine’s extensive experience in building bridges between conflicting parties informs her dynamic, practical teaching style.

Pat Lau served as a workplace mediator at Intel Corporation for 14 years, where he co-founded and led the company’s internal Collaborative Mediation Program. Under his guidance, this initiative helped resolve complex conflicts between coworkers, managers, and teams. Pat is a nationally recognized trainer and presenter on workplace conflict, with published work in the Corporate Mediation Journal and Managing Conflict (2nd ed.). He brings a systems-minded approach to mediation from his prior engineering career and is committed to helping professionals understand and shift conflict dynamics from the inside out.

Additional Notes

Registrations received fewer than 72 hours before the program will be accepted at the discretion of the training team due to role-play and logistics needs.

For questions, contact us at [email protected]

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