Life has conflicts, which are often difficult and challenging. The Dispute Resolution Center of Thurston County (DRC) provides a variety of in-person and online resources to support the prevention and resolution of conflicts while improving communication. The DRC values and centers on diversity, inclusion and social justice – organizationally and in its services and programs for the community. Their upcoming Conflict Crash Course Series is a three-part program that takes all of this into consideration. The convenience, timing and cost of this training are meant to make participation possible and accessible for as many as possible. We all could do with a few more skills.
Conflict Crash Course
This series of three half-day online workshops provides concrete skills for facing everyday conflicts while retaining your personal integrity, civility and mutual respect. Its goals include improving communication, enhancing relationships, managing conflict and preventing escalation in all settings. The DRC recognizes that individual’s values are reflections of their histories, experiences and cultural backgrounds. This series will be presented via Zoom. Learning is progressive, but it is possible to take one or two of the segments. Each segment costs $49/person, and a $25 discount is offered for all three, for a total price of $122.
“It’s eye opening to folks,” says Charlotte Aldrich, the DRC’s outgoing training manager. The training is a place to find out ways we could listen better. After hearing someone’s story, we may go straight to giving advice or telling our own story. This is not necessarily bad or wrong. However, the person may have wanted someone to listen rather than to fix their situation. Consequently, there are feelings of frustration and of not being heard. You may fare better asking for more information. Listening well takes practice.” Kids, partners and best friends really want to be heard, not solved,” she adds.
Not everyone intends to be a professional or volunteer mediator. This course keeps that in mind. You will learn to make room for others, listen actively, be aware of what happens in your body when in conflict and ways to move forward.
Crash Course Dates and Topics:
March 7: Skills for Active Listening
April 4: Skills for Forward Movement
May 9: Skills for Negotiations
All 4-hour sessions will be held from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
The Crash Course is a lower cost alternative to the Dispute Resolution Center’s more intense mediator training. Participants will gain skills they can apply both at home and at work. It also provides an introduction to these skills for people who are considering becoming a volunteer mediator or considering other work in this field. Learn more about and sign up for the Conflict Crash Course on Eventbrite.
Looking for more? Check out the Dispute Resolution Center of Thurston County’s upcoming training.
Dispute Resolution Center Upcoming Trainings
Facilitating Effective Meetings: March 27 and 28
No one appreciates ineffective or dysfunctional meetings. This interactive training develops a foundation in the concepts, processes, and skills for designing and facilitating meetings.
40-Hour Professional Mediation Training: April 20-22 and 27-29
This in-depth training course is designed for anyone who wants to help others solve conflicts more peacefully, build relationships with neighbors, co-workers and friends, strengthen professional skills, or become a certified mediator with the DRC.
Last year the DRC served more than over 9,000 people in our community. Services through DRC are provided in a sliding fee scale and available to help resolve any of the following conflict situations:
- Neighbors
- Tenants and landlords
- Co-workers and supervisors
- Business owners and their customers
- Divorcing couples
- Parents working on parenting plans
- Teens and their parents
- Elders, their families and caregivers
Finally, Aldrich offers a couple of communicating tips you can use right away.
1 – A complaint is a poorly worded request
It might sound like whining or blaming and it’s often hard to hear. It’s easy to get reactive or defensive. Consider that the complainer is really wanting to make a request. For example, your roommate says, “You never clean up your dishes.” This could certainly be true. The need behind the complaint may be the person’s desire for orderliness. “People want to get their basic needs met,” coaches Charlotte. That’s where the effective listening helps.
2 – Learn the value of silence. Use the WAIT technique
Silence can be golden. We have a tendency to want to fill the space. Sometimes it’s a good idea to ask oneself, “Why Am I Talking?” Being quiet can make space for others to speak. It can give time to absorb what was just heard.
We are all navigating a world of conflicts both small and large. Conflict can be an opportunity for connection and understanding. Learning skills and practice won’t always make resolutions easy, but they provide a smoother path forward. The Dispute Resolution Center of Thurston County can help you with your disputes and with moving into the future with more effective communication skills. Check out the DRC website for more information on their services and resources.
Dispute Resolution Center
360.956.1155
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