certificate course in negotiation and conflict management

Valerie Dansereau has more than twenty years of experience in corporate America, so the world of business is very familiar turf. She has written for many different types of business from healthcare to addiction recovery to banking to B2B. For Peaceful Leaders Academy, she focuses on conflict management, de-escalation, and leadership development.

There are many things that may happen in your workplace that you can’t predict, but one thing you can be sure of is that conflict is going to occur sooner or later. People come from different backgrounds and have different life experiences, which means disagreements are inevitable. Whether two staff members can’t see eye to eye on a project or there’s a personality clash or miscommunication, it’s important to make sure you have the skills needed to handle conflict whenever it happens. A great way to acquire these skills is with a certificate course in negotiation and conflict management.

Negotiation Skills

Negotiation skills can help you to resolve a conflict that’s snowballing out of control. Not all conflicts get to this point since some conflict can be constructive. Constructive conflict helps stimulate the expression of different ideas. But if conflict continues to worsen, ignoring it isn’t the answer It may be affecting others in the workplace because of an atmosphere of constant tension and conflict. By this point, productivity is suffering, and other staff members may be choosing sides, which is likely to make things even worse.

When you take a certificate course in negotiation and conflict management, you’ll become familiar with different outcomes that may be attained when negotiating conflict. If you act as a mediator, you may be able to participate in brainstorming solutions, or you may act as a detached third party.

Negotiation may lead to a successful resolution, such as a win/win where both parties get part of what they want. Compromise may be possible when considering where interests overlap and how it may be possible to reach a common goal. In some cases, a win/win solution isn’t possible and only one party gets what they want.

Conflict Management Skills

The way you approach conflict can affect whether you’re able to successfully help to resolve it. Emotional intelligence is an important skills to have when managing conflict. This refers to your ability to accurately assess a situation to determine whether intervention is needed and to remain calm and focused in the middle of stormy emotional outbursts.

Active listening skills are important when managing conflict. This includes listening closely to what’s being said and repeating it back to make sure there’s no misunderstanding. Pay attention to both verbal and nonverbal clues including body language and facial expressions. Work on understanding the true source of conflict, which may not be obvious right away. Encourage the parties in conflict to each communicate their position including desired changes without interruption.

Choosing a Certificate Course in Negotiation and Conflict Management

The decision to pursue a certificate course in negotiation and conflict management is a great way to prepare for whatever is ahead including things that may trigger conflicts and to learn how to recognize when you may need to step in. You may learn about how to build trust and how to recognize unconscious bias in yourself and others as well as how to recognize when you may need the help of your HR department or an outside organization that specializes in conflict resolution. This training can benefit you in your current role or prepare you for future opportunities. It may also help you to handle conflict outside work.

Certificate programs in this field are offered both in-person and online. Ideally, you’ll have a chance to interact with others and learn through role-playing. While you can’t predict every possible conflict scenario, completing a certificate course in negotiation and conflict management helps you to be more prepared for future conflicts.

Reach out to Peaceful Leaders Academy for more information on becoming a certified peaceful leader.

Valerie Dansereau has more than twenty years of experience in corporate America, so the world of business is very familiar turf. She has written for many different types of business from healthcare to addiction recovery to banking to B2B. For Peaceful Leaders Academy, she focuses on conflict management, de-escalation, and leadership development.