Workplace conflict, lack of communication, assumptions, and incivility are common in many organizations, which can take an emotional and financial toll. Do you feel you struggle to make yourself understood, or find yourself constantly back in the same old problem with a coworker? When you and your colleagues learn how to communicate best, you can have productive dialogue, prevent misunderstanding, and achieve effective conflict resolution. The Dispute Resolution Center of Thurston County has provided facilitation, communication, and conflict-resolution training for over 30 years. Our vision helps create a thriving and peaceful community where individuals actively use effective and respectful communication skills to live, work, and play together. 

Performance Objectives: Upon completion of this course you should be able to: 

• Explore different communication styles based on your lived experience
• Understand the principles of interest-based negotiation
• Perform basic communication skills in practice scenarios 

Competencies Covered:

• Learners self-explore their own interests (needs and values), feelings, and positions and how these impact conflict.
• Learners practice skills such as active listening and re-framing techniques in small groups.
• Learners discuss theory of conflict and how culture impacts our experiences.
• Learners discuss and practice basic theory of collaborative negotiation