Assessing and Managing Unresolvable Problems:
This two-day session is intended for experienced conflict management and organizational consultants in the federal government interested in enhancing their ability to effectively assess and intervene in complex multi-party, multi-layered situations of conflict within the workplace.
Workshop Description:
People involved in enhancing group functioning are often frustrated by issues that, despite their best problem solving efforts, continue to resurface. Solutions proposed to these perennial conflicts are often met with significant resistance and or cynicism. Decisions that seemed effective at the time are revealed with hindsight as the seeds of current complaints. These reoccurring issues divide workplaces and can even polarize whole departments and industry sectors.
This workshop will equip participants with an effective way to assess and manage unsolvable workplace issues. Practical tools and processes will be shared that mediators/intervenors can use to both coach key individuals in conflict situations as well as to facilitate constructive discussion within deeply divided groups. Polarity management processes can be use to help groups proactively address complex business issues, manage ongoing paradoxes and enable divided groups to manage their rifts and function more harmoniously.
Participants will have the opportunity to explore the nature of a number of common unresolvable dilemmas faced within the workplace as well as the opportunity to work with their own unique situations in case study groups.
Who Should Attend:
This two-day workshop is intended for workplace mediators, organizational consultants and other professionals who assess and intervene in situations of group conflict. The Ottawa offering of this course will be particularly attuned to the challenges facing mediators and organizational consultants working in the public sector.
Learning Outcomes:
+ Learn to differential “irresolvable” polarities from resolvable problem
+ Understand the dynamics of “either or” and “both and” thinking
+ Develop ability to apply the concept of polarities to workplace challenges
+ Identify organizational strengths and vulnerabilities via polarities
+ Apply the wisdom of polarities to more effectively advocate for change and defend the status quo
+ Develop skills as a Mediator/Consultant to use polarity management as a framework/tool to facilitate/lead conflicted groups
+ Develop skills to use polarity management as a framework/tool to prevent group conflict
+ Learn to apply the principles of polarity management during individual coaching and performance management process.
“High performance leaders and organizations have developed a tacit wisdom about managing polarities even if they have never heard the name. Their experience and intuition has led to a natural ability to, as F. Scott Fitzgerald said, "... hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function." Barry Johnson
This course is based on the work of Dr. Barry Johnson
(Polarity Management Associates)
and it application to the work of Facilitated Solutions.
Facilitators:
David Falk MA. Mediator and Conflict Management Specialist
David Falk is a Partner of Facilitated Solutions, one the leading workplace conflict management firms in Canada and an Associate Trainer with the Resolutions Skills Centre, a national conflict resolution training centre located in Winnipeg. David has worked in the mediation and conflict resolution field for 20 years. He was on Faculty at the University of Winnipeg’s Conflict Resolution Studies program for seven years and has led seminars across the continent. David has been involved in assessing and intervening in conflict situations and providing consultation support to many organizations throughout Canada. David has studied directly with Dr. Barry Johnson and is a member of the Polarity Management Associates.
Janet Schmidt MEd. Mediator and Conflict Management Specialist
Janet Schmidt is a Founding Partner of Facilitated Solutions and an Associate Trainer with the Resolutions Skills Centre. Janet has worked full time as a mediator and trainer for more than 20 years, focusing almost exclusively on facilitating workplace disputes. Janet has extensive national and international experience in the field – she worked and lived in Africa from 1996 to 1999 where she developed a Pan African conflict resolution education program. Janet’s Masters of Education degree focuses on organizational behaviour and psychology.
Logistics:
Fees: $1000 per person (group rates available)
Class size: Minimum of 8 to a maximum of 20 participants
Location: Rideau Tennis Club
1 Donald Street, Ottawa
Accommodations: Participants are responsible for their own accommodations.
Payment Due: To confirm registration
Cancellation:
+ Before February 15, 2010 - no charge.
+ On or after February 15, 2010 – no refund.
+ In the case in insufficient enrolment, Facilitated Solutions will cancel the session
and refund participant’s full registration.
+ Any notification of cancellation will be made on or before February 15, 2010.
For More Information and To Register:
To Register: Print and fax registration form
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONACT:
Sandy Koop Harder
Phone: 204.774.5389
Fax: 204.452.6082
Email: info@fscanada.org