What if the key to successful engagement is not avoiding conflict, but embracing it? Understanding the nature and dynamics of conflict is crucial for developing effective strategies to transform tensions into opportunities, and ensure successful public participation outcomes. The aim of Understanding Conflict in P2/engagement is to help you understand, and more effectively manage, conflict dynamics. The focus will be on developing the skills of participants to identify and mitigate situations of tension and conflict within their P2/engagement work.

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the sources, types and factors that contribute to conflict in P2/engagement and the impact they may have on the process

• Understand the role of power and influence in engagement practice

• Understand and identify the cycle of escalation, and the behaviors, attitudes and actions that are evident as conflict increases

• Contribute to and/or apply strategies to de-escalate challenging situations

• Identify how to build effective relationships and partnerships through empathy, active listening,

  respect and trust

• Learn approaches to work in challenging situations applying behaviors that build trust and credibility

• Consider the role of integrity and ethics in the conduct of the P2/engagement practitioner, and how that is upheld in the process

This course consists of 2-4 hour virtual live sessions. Sessions will be held on September 25th and 26th from 1:00-5:00 ET / 12:00-4:00 CT / 11:00-3:00 MT / 10:00-2:00 PT.

Prerequisite Course Required: Participants must take Fundamentals of Public Participation prior to attending this course.