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The Art of Conflict Transformation
Two-Day Workshop
Conflict is a natural part of life which presents us with opportunities for creative solutions. When approached openly and with curiosity, conflict can actually motivate us to change and grow, and deepen our relationships with others. Yet, many of us have been taught that to be in conflict is a negative experience in which we should either retreat, concede or fight until we win. When stuck in a single approach to conflict it can inhibit our ability to effectively solve problems. As a result of our past experiences with conflict, many of us are very anxious about interpersonal differences.
The art of conflict transformation is about shifting an “either-or” way of thinking into an attitude of curiosity and openness to possibility out of which people can create “win-win” solutions. The goals of this workshop are to help participants 1) increase their comfort in dealing with conflict and 2) learn an effective method for responding to conflict that increases trust and communication in relationships.
Through small and large group discussions, hands-on activities, and lecturettes, participants will:
- Explore messages received about conflict.
- Reflect on a personal conflict and discover how past messages impact our responses to conflict.
- Review the range of responses to conflict.
- Explore the differences between win/lose and win/win responses to conflict.
- Learn centering, a method of being present in the moment.
- Distinguish between positions and needs.
- Learn how to discover and clearly state needs.
- Enhance the ability to listen while in conflict.
- Discover how to find common ground and achieve win-win solutions.
- Practice the skills of conflict transformation through role play situations.
- Examine the nature of resistance.
- Explore ways to apply this learning.
© 2002 Kathy Germann Consulting and Denise Jess Consulting.
[See when this workshop is offered through UW-Madison]
The Advanced Art of Conflict Transformation
One-Day Workshop
The first two days of The Art of Conflict Transformation are a beginning — a process of reframing our relationship to conflict and learning the basics of new skills. We know from our own experience that practicing the skills of conflict transformation is a life-long process that is made more difficult by our society’s adherence to win/lose patterns of thinking. At times, knowing the skills alone is not enough — our fears concerning conflict may bar us from fully integrating and using these skills and we fall back upon old habits of response. This advanced workshop is an opportunity to deepen and enhance your skills so you may use them not only on a personal level, but also to begin to create a paradigm shift in the larger culture.
In this workshop, participants will:
- Enhance their ability to use skills in centering
- Achieve greater clarity about their underlying needs
- Enhance their skills in deep inquiry
- Learn how to set healthy boundaries to maintain their integrity
- Enhance their skills in working with people they find challenging
Please note: past participation in the 2-day Art of Conflict Transformation workshop is a prerequisite to attending this Advanced workshop.
© 2002 Kathy Germann Consulting.
[See when this workshop is offered through UW-Madison]
Listening for a Change
Two-Day Workshop
Only through true listening and understanding can we hope to create communities that sustain each of us — communities that treat every individual with respect and dignity, that welcome multiple perspectives, use conflict creatively, and elicit our best actions based on integrity.
Unfortunately, most of us listen only to strengthen the arguments that support our point of view — we fail to take into consideration the differing perspectives of others. Yet, to work through intensely emotional and/or controversial issues we need to relate to others with curiosity and compassion. Only when we seek to understand one another can we transform the old model of competition to a new one of collaborative positive change resulting in mutually acceptable and innovative solutions.
Whether you are facilitating a discussion among colleagues at work, members of a faith community, family members, or fellow citizens, this workshop will support you in learning the the skills and tools to be able to listen deeply to others and to have the courage to speak your truth.
Participants will learn how to:
- Create a safe forum for dialogue
- Use centering to be present in the moment
- Listen without judgement
- Check out assumptions
- Distinguish between positions and needs
- Use inquiry to understand multiple perspectives
- Apply these skills in group contexts
© 2002 Kathy Germann Consulting and Denise Jess Consulting.
[See when this workshop is offered through UW-Madison]