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Hello Friends and Supporters,
As we enter October, I’m excited to share some of the fantastic programs we have coming up at the Center for Understanding in Conflict. Whether you’re looking to develop your skills or tackle workplace challenges, there’s something for everyone.
Our Working Creatively with Conflict training, happening in California from November 6-10, is an immersive experience that involves realistic simulations and personalized coaching. It’s a perfect opportunity to gain deeper insights into conflict resolution and how to apply our understanding-based model.
For those focused on workplace challenges, we offer a 40-hour Workplace Mediation and Conflict Resolution Training online in January. This training is ideal for HR professionals, managers, and consultants who want practical tools for resolving organizational conflicts.
Our Navigating Difficult Conversations series is another highlight for navigating challenging conversations. This program will equip you with strategies to transform high-stakes interactions into moments of connection and collaboration.
I encourage you to look at these programs and others on our events calendar. We’d love to have you join us and continue building a culture of understanding.
Thank you for everything you do to bring together parties in conflict every day!
In partnership,
James Dykeman
Executive Director
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Building a Culture of Understanding: How Conflict Resolution Transforms Workplaces and Drives Success
Unresolved conflicts in the workplace, be it interpersonal disputes or organizational misalignments, can inflict significant harm on employee morale, operational efficiency, and business outcomes. These conflicts, often rooted in clashing perceptions, goals, or values among employees at all levels, if left unattended, can lead to a decrease in productivity, higher employee turnover, and weakened client relationships.
The business perspective of unresolved conflicts is equally significant. Miscommunication, project delays, and an overall loss of organizational coherence are common outcomes. A single unresolved conflict can escalate into more significant organizational issues, disrupting workflows, reducing employee retention, and driving up recruitment and training costs.
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Home Is Here: Practicing Antiracism with the Engaged Eightfold Path by Liên Shutt
Liên Shutt’s Home Is Here: Practicing Antiracism with the Engaged Eightfold Path presents a transformative approach to understanding and addressing racism, rooted in Buddhist principles and the Eightfold Path. From the perspective of understanding-based conflict resolution, Shutt’s approach aligns remarkably well with the core values of deep listening, mutual understanding, and personal responsibility for creating change in the face of social conflict. Shutt offers a meditative and practical roadmap for fostering deeper connections between individuals and communities by merging spiritual practice with active antiracism.
The understanding-based approach to conflict resolution emphasizes that parties in conflict have the capacity and responsibility to understand the deeper causes of their issues and work collaboratively toward a solution. This principle resonates with Shutt’s work, as she highlights the importance of self-reflection, mindfulness, and compassionate action in antiracism. The book’s framing of the Engaged Eightfold Path as a guide to social justice mirrors the conflict resolution process, where individuals are encouraged to look beneath the surface of their positions and explore the underlying values and fears driving their actions.
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Introduction to the Understanding-Based Model and Founder Gary Friedman
In this episode, we dive into the heart of conflict resolution with Gary J. Friedman, co-founder of the Center for Understanding in Conflict. Whether in personal relationships, professional environments, or for those who work as conflict resolution practitioners, this approach emphasizes mutual understanding and collaboration, offering practical tools to foster connection and navigate conflict constructively. Join us as we explore how these principles can shift perspectives, rebuild trust, and create meaningful resolutions across different spheres of life.
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Our flagship experiential certificate training program centered in the Understanding-Based Model | |
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Working Creatively
with Conflict
Realistic simulations, in which participants work through mediations from beginning to end, with coaching from our teachers, offer participants the chance to hone their skills and experience the emotional challenges faced by parties in dispute. Participants describe these different learning modes and their interplay as enjoyable, engaging, and rewarding.
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West Coast
November 6 - 10, 2024
March 5 - 9, 2025
East Coast
June 23 - 28, 2025
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Workplace Mediation
The 40-hour Workplace Mediation and Conflict Resolution Training is tailored for professionals involved in managing workplace disputes, such as HR leaders, managers, and consultants. The program teaches participants to mediate conflicts using the Understanding-Based Model, focusing on neutrality, enhancing understanding, and fostering collaborative solutions. Training includes interactive role-plays and simulations that immerse participants in real-world workplace mediation scenarios.
The sessions are conducted online and provide a comprehensive approach to handling conflict within organizations, equipping participants with skills directly applicable to workplace mediation
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Navigating Difficult Conversations
Join our expert-led series focused on transforming high-stakes conversations into opportunities for deeper understanding and connection. Over multiple sessions, you’ll learn practical strategies for managing conflict, de-escalating tension, and fostering open dialogue. Grounded in values of empathy, clarity, and collaboration, this series equips you to navigate difficult dynamics and build stronger, more trusting relationships. Ideal for professionals, mediators, and anyone facing challenging interactions.
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Support and Development Group
The CUC Support and Development Group is a virtual series that meets monthly for five months. This small, focused group offers professionals trained at the Center for Understanding in Conflict the chance to deepen their skills, explore complex cases, and discuss challenges they face in their practice. Facilitated by experienced trainers, the sessions emphasize peer learning and advanced topics in mediation. It's a valuable opportunity for growth and connection within a supportive, understanding-based community.
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Constructive Conversations: Understanding-Based Workplace Applications
Unresolved conflicts in the workplace can lead to disengaged employees, reduced productivity, and other negative impacts stemming from interpersonal tensions. In this webinar, join Catherine Conner and Pat Lau on October 7, 2024 to explore a model for fostering constructive conversations, guiding participants to prepare for and engage in meaningful dialogues about the content of conflicts and their underlying relationships. This approach is applicable not only in the workplace but also in any setting where conflicts arise, offering valuable insights for anyone seeking to navigate and resolve disputes
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FREE - Planning for Impact
As we approach the end of the year, we invite you to collectively explore personal and professional interests, address common concerns, and ignite a passion for applying understanding-based practices. Join Catherine Conner and Gary Friedman on Wednesday, November 20, 2024 and be part of an interactive discussion to explore making an impact in the new year.
Gain invaluable insights to embark on a shared journey of successful conflict resolution and mediation with a renewed commitment to support working through conflict, fostering harmonious relationships and creating positive change.
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COMMUNITY VIDEO FOR OCTOBER | |
Emotions and Rationality in Mediation
This program explores two fundamental approaches to conflict resolution and decision-making: one based on coercion and the other on understanding. Traditional conflict resolution often hinges on the power of coercion, involving control, persuasion, or manipulation, where outcomes are dictated by external authority or force. This approach tends to lock the parties into adversarial positions, often prolonging the conflict.
In contrast, the understanding-based approach emphasizes the role of understanding as a gateway to resolution. It encourages parties to take responsibility for their conflict's process and outcomes. Rather than imposing solutions, the focus is on helping each party fully grasp what is essential to them and the other party. This deeper understanding fosters a collaborative environment where both sides work together, leading to more meaningful and sustainable outcomes.
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