Communication and Conflict Management Course

Nonprofit Networks Communication and Conflict Management Course

“It’s Important to make sure we’re talking with each other in a way that heals, not in a way that wounds.” Barak Obama

Communication, or lack thereof, is usually at the center of conflict within the workplace.  Awareness of styles and high-level skills
around communication and conflict management help develop a work culture where engagement and creative and innovative thought are fostered and become commonplace.  Effective communication skills give us the necessary tools to follow a path of healthy communication instead of defaulting to a communication pattern in which we totally avoid difficult, yet necessary, conversations or dive right in and handle them badly.  This course provides an alternative.

By utilizing structured conversations to help increase participants’ awareness of their communication and conflict resolution styles as well as teaching skills to enhance the ability to communicate effectively the course will cover the following topics: 

• Navigating and mastering difficult and critical conversations
• Conflict resolution styles
• Communication styles
• Seven levels of listening
• Listening barriers
• Empowering questions
• Disempowering questions

This course was developed for all staff and board who are seeking to increase and improve their interactions with peers, volunteers, donors, and other organizational stakeholders. 

Course Sessions & Timeline 

A total of seven course sessions are held once monthly over six to seven-months and are ninety-minutes in length except the final session which is one hour. All materials are included.
Click here to review the sessions, Communications and Conflict Management Syllabus and Timeline.pdf

Professional Development Benefits:

• In addition to being coached, members develop core coaching skills
• Through open-ended questions and limited advice, members are able to tap their own knowledge and that of their peers
• Members work on real challenges or goals – the things that matter most here and now
• Members make new connections, receive feedback and gain new perspectives
• Members are accountable to take action, so they learn by doing and following through

*How This Works

Please be sure to fill out the 4 minute questionnaire for 2025: Communication and Conflict Management Course Survey.  
Survey results will determine exact days and times of the sessions.
The Communications Courses will start once we have a cohesive group of 6 and no more than 8 people. A minimum of 6 participants is required to be the most beneficial so, the start date/week may vary some until we have the minimum number of participants.

After informal phone interviews with each of you and times and dates are established, communications cohort sessions will meet monthly and will last 1 - 1.5 hours. Groups will meet for 7 online sessions (1 meet and greet + 5 sessions + wrap-up session) and this will expand over 7-months, each group facilitated by our Capacity Building Consultant, Sharon Castle.