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Responding to Conflict: Strategies for Improved Communication

Increase your success by proactively improving your conflict management skills.

Conflict in business is all too familiar—particularly under increased business pressures. Still, most of us lack basic conflict management skills. Rather than react to conflict on a purely emotional level, you can learn how to manage disputes and disagreements in a positive manner, or even avoid them altogether. This conflict management training will show you how to recognize the causes of interpersonal conflict. It emphasizes skills to help you critically evaluate conflict situations and then choose the appropriate strategies and tools to manage and/or resolve these conflicts. You’ll develop greater awareness of your emotional triggers and how to control them. In addition, you will learn how to continually action-plan around the implementation of your new skills.  

Seminar Number: 02115

5
(289 reviews)
  • In-Person
  • Live Online
  • At Your Company Location

Course Scheduling & Pricing

Home>Course Topic>Communication Skills>Responding to Conflict: Strategies for Improved Communication

Who Should Attend

Business professionals who want to expand their conflict management skills, understand their own emotions and behaviors when addressing conflict, and find productive ways to manage conflict.

  •   In-Person2 Day(s)
    12 CAE, 1.2 CEU, 12 CLP, 14 CPE, 12 PDCs, 12 PDU, 12 PHR, 12 PMU, 12 SPHR
  •   Live Online2 Day(s)
    12 CAE, 1.2 CEU, 12 CLP, 14 CPE, 12 PDCs, 12 PDU, 12 PHR, 12 PMU, 12 SPHR
 
 

Conflict in business is all too familiar—particularly under increased business pressures. Still, most of us lack basic conflict management skills. Rather than react to conflict on a purely emotional level, you can learn how to manage disputes and disagreements in a positive manner, or even avoid them altogether. This conflict management training will show you how to recognize the causes of interpersonal conflict. It emphasizes skills to help you critically evaluate conflict situations and then choose the appropriate strategies and tools to manage and/or resolve these conflicts. You’ll develop greater awareness of your emotional triggers and how to control them. In addition, you will learn how to continually action-plan around the implementation of your new skills.

 

  • Recognize the underlying causes of conflict 
  • Map conflict using a five-step approach 
  • Identify ways to develop flexible responses to personal and professional conflicts 
  • Practice applying models, techniques and strategies to manage your interpersonal communication behaviors in conflict situations 
  • Implement strategies to improve your communication and effectively respond to conflict

Developing Conflict Awareness

  • Recognizing the difference between disagreement and conflict 
  • Understanding the five levels of a conflict 
  • Exploring barriers to conflict management and resolution

Responding to Conflict 

  • Identifying your own feelings and actions in response to conflict 
  • Applying the P-U-R-R Model to demonstrate understanding
  • Utilizing the validating process 
  • Distinguishing between listening for thoughts and listening for feelings

The Role of Trust in Minimizing Conflict

  • Describing the 4 Cs as the cornerstones of building trust 
  • Knowing how trust is lost and regained, and how transparency validates trust 
  • Identifying interests behind positions

Conflict Strategies

  • Identifying your preferred strategies for responding to conflict 
  • Understanding the five conflict strategies 
  • Exploring appropriate strategies to minimize/manage conflict

Moving Beyond Conflict

  • Knowing why relationship conflict and content conflict should be handled differently 
  • Turning potential disagreements into discussion by applying the Model to Disagree 
  • Identifying and practicing assertiveness tools and strategies 
  • Detoxifying emotional statements and devising alternative ways to express the message

Dealing with Difficult Behavior

  • Explaining the difference between difficult people and difficult behavior
  • Understanding how to handle passive behavior 
  • Developing a strategy for handling passive or aggressive behavior

Mapping the Conflict

  • Mapping a conflict using a 5-step approach 
  • Exploring a given conflict from various "viewing points" 
  • Separating interests from positions in a specific conflict 
  • Selecting a conflict strategy appropriate to addressing a specific goal 
  • Implementing a chosen conflict strategy

Thunderstorms

  • Applying skills to address emotionally tense conflicts (called Thunderstorms) 
  • Using skills to address an intra-group conflict case study 
  • Planning for future development to effectively respond to conflict

Learning Objectives

  • Identify Underlying Causes of Conflict
  • Identify Approaches for Developing Flexible Responses to Personal and Professional Conflicts
  • Practice Various Models, Techniques, Strategies, and Approaches to Manage Your Interpersonal Communication Behaviors in Conflict Situations
  • Implement Flexible Strategies to Improve Your Communication and to Effectively Respond to Conflict

Developing Conflict Awareness

  • Define Conflict
  • Explain the Difference Between Disagreement and Conflict
  • Describe the Five Levels of a Conflict
  • Describe Barriers to Managing and Resolving Conflict

Responding to Conflict

  • Identify Your Own Personal Feelings and Actions in Response to Conflict
  • Ally the P-U-R-R Model to Demonstrate Understanding and Application
  • Apply the Validating Process
  • Distinguish Between Listening for Thoughts and Listening for Feelings in a Conversation
  • Explain That Meaning Often Comes from the Context of the Relationship Rather Than the Intrinsic Definition of the Words Used

Conflict Strategies

  • Identify Your Preferred Strategy or Strategies for Responding to Conflict
  • Identify the Five Conflict Strategies
  • Analyze Examples and Recommend Appropriate Strategies to Minimize or Manage Conflict

The Role of Trust in Minimizing Conflict

  • Describe the Four “Cs” as the Cornerstones of Building Trust
  • Explain How Trust Is Lost and Regained, and How Transparency Validates Trust
  • Identify Interests Behind Positions

Moving Beyond Conflict

  • Describe How Relationship Conflict and Content Conflict Should Be Handled Differently
  • Demonstrate How to Turn Potential Disagreements into Discussion By Applying the Model to Disagree
  • Identify and Practice Assertiveness Tools and Strategies
  • Detoxify Emotional Statements, and Devise Alternative Ways to Express the Message Behind the Emotional Statement

Dealing with Difficult Behaviors

  • Explain the Difference Between Difficult People and Difficult Behavior
  • Describe an Understanding of Handling Passive Behavior
  • Describe a Strategy for Handling Passive or Aggressive Behavior

Mapping Conflict

  • Map a Conflict Using a Five-Step Approach
  • Explore a Given Conflict from Various “Viewing Points”
  • Separate Interests from Positions in a Specific Conflict
  • Select a Conflict Strategy Appropriate to Address a Specific Goal
  • Demonstrate the Implementation of the Chosen Conflict Strategy

Thunderstorms

  • Apply a Combination of Skills, Techniques, and Ideas Presented Throughout This Seminar to a Conflict Situation (Called a “Thunderstorm”)
  • Demonstrate the Application of Appropriate Conflict Strategies to Address the “Thunderstorm”

Download Extended Seminar Outline PDF

View a Sample of Our Reviews

5

289 reviews

 
The facilitator was excellent and did a good job of keeping all participants engaged. Additionally, many tools for responding to conflict were offered and the material was thoughtfully assembled. The interactive structure of the training, including the break-out rooms provided for practice sessions that help prepare for real-life experiences.
5
Lynette T.
 
Senior Associate
 
Industry: Business Management Consulting
Great Class. I avoid dealing with conflict, but after taking this course, i have confidence on how to deal with conflict and will know what methods and techniques I can use to handle the situation.
5
Maryanne P.
 
Business Analyst Manager
 
Industry: Insurance
This was a great course. The instructor Jean was wonderful, and always had good insight to share. We also had a great group! Came away with great tools to use going forward.
5
Taryn D.
 
System Administrator
 
Industry: Manufacturing
Outstanding trainer. Excellent overall knowledge, moved class along, imparted his strong experience. I like how he controlled the training to make sure discussions were about the topic and how he kept everyone engaged.
5
MARCOS V.
 
FABRICATION SUPERVISOR
 
Industry: Business Services, Software & Tech

This course is valid for 12 PMUs.
10 Professional Effectiveness [PE]
2 Relationship Management [RM]

AMA is recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for the SHRM-CPSM or SHRM-SCPSM.

AMA has been reviewed and approved as a provider of project management training by the Project Management Institute (PMI).

Talent Triangle PDUs

[L] 12

Project Management Institute (PMI) Talent Triangle, 2015.
Reproduced with the permission of PMI. Copyright and all rights reserved

American Management Association is accredited by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and is accredited to issue the IACET CEU.

AMA is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org. For additional information or for more information regarding administrative policies such as complaints and refunds, please contact Martha Leon at 212-903-8173.

Recommended CPE Credit: 14 hours/Basic
Prerequisites: None
Advance Preparation: Online pre-and post-assessment
Delivery Method: Group Live
Field of Study: Non-technical - Communication

In-Person Schedule

7 Sessions Available

Live Online Schedule

8 Sessions Available

  • $2,895.00 Non Members
  • $2,595.00 AMA Members
  • $2,567.00 GSA
Date Duration State City Zip
  2025-11-13 2025-11-14 Nov 13, 2025 - Nov 14, 2025 2 Days CA San Francisco 94103 San Francisco Register Now

  2025-11-17 2025-11-18 Nov 17, 2025 - Nov 18, 2025 2 Days GA Atlanta 30309-7705 Atlanta Register Now

  2025-12-15 2025-12-16 Dec 15, 2025 - Dec 16, 2025 2 Days DC Arlington/Washington 22202-4807 Arlington/Washington Register Now

  2026-02-05 2026-02-06 Feb 5, 2026 - Feb 6, 2026 2 Days GA Atlanta 30309-7705 Atlanta Register Now

  2026-04-20 2026-04-21 Apr 20, 2026 - Apr 21, 2026 2 Days DC Arlington/Washington 22202-4807 Arlington/Washington Register Now

  2026-05-11 2026-05-12 May 11, 2026 - May 12, 2026 2 Days CA San Francisco 94103 San Francisco Register Now

  2026-06-22 2026-06-23 Jun 22, 2026 - Jun 23, 2026 2 Days NY New York 10019 New York Register Now

The facilitator was excellent and did a good job of keeping all participants engaged. Additionally, many tools for responding to conflict were offered and the material was thoughtfully assembled. The interactive structure of the training, including the break-out rooms provided for practice sessions that help prepare for real-life experiences.
5
Lynette T.
 
Senior Associate
 
Industry: Business Management Consulting
Great Class. I avoid dealing with conflict, but after taking this course, i have confidence on how to deal with conflict and will know what methods and techniques I can use to handle the situation.
5
Maryanne P.
 
Business Analyst Manager
 
Industry: Insurance
This was a great course. The instructor Jean was wonderful, and always had good insight to share. We also had a great group! Came away with great tools to use going forward.
5
Taryn D.
 
System Administrator
 
Industry: Manufacturing
Outstanding trainer. Excellent overall knowledge, moved class along, imparted his strong experience. I like how he controlled the training to make sure discussions were about the topic and how he kept everyone engaged.
5
MARCOS V.
 
FABRICATION SUPERVISOR
 
Industry: Business Services, Software & Tech
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