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Managing Difference in the Workplace, The Essential Process: Created, Tried and Tested by Dr. Dan Dana of Mediation Training International

Have you ever wondered what individuals, supervisors, managers, HR professionals, and organizations can do to address differences early—preventing lingering tensions, escalating disputes, and costly interventions down the road?

In this interactive session, we will explore Dan Dana’s Essential Process for Conflict Resolution, a simple yet highly effective approach designed for everyday workplace and personal interactions. You’ll gain a clear understanding of the foundational principles that make this process work and have the opportunity to apply it in real-world scenarios.

The process will be presented in two practical formats:
1) One-on-one conversations to directly address issues at their source.
2) Facilitated discussions where a third party supports participants in staying engaged in the process.

Sounds too simple to be effective? Too good to be true? Join us and see for yourself!

Supervisors and managers who have adopted this approach report that it has significantly lightened their workload, increased their confidence, and provided peace of mind when managing workplace conflict. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn a game-changing tool that can make conflict resolution easier and more effective for everyone.

Note: This course is not a substitute for professional mediation and the six phase interest-based model utilized by trained conflict management practioners. If you are interested in training to become a Mediator please visit: National Introductory Mediation

Who Should Take This Course?

This course is ideal for supervisors, managers, HR professionals, leaders, and ADR Professionals looking for a simple, effective approach to resolving workplace conflicts. It’s also valuable for employees who want to navigate workplace challenges with confidence and improve communication in professional and personal settings.

What Will I Learn and What Skills Will I Gain?

Students will:

  • -Learn a structured, practical approach to resolving workplace conflicts.
  • -Understand how personal conflict responses impact relationships.
  • -Develop skills to mediate disputes effectively, whether as a direct participant or a third-party facilitator.
  • -Gain confidence in addressing conflict early to prevent escalation.
  • -Apply a step-by-step framework for non-adversarial conflict resolution.

Learning Goals

In the context of workplace conflict resolution, students will:

  • -Recognize areas for future skill and competency development in conflict resolution.
  • -Understand Successful Conflict Conversations (Self-as-Mediator) and when to use them.
  • -Learn to prepare clear issue statements to facilitate productive discussions.
  • -Explore Third-Party Resolution (Manager-as-Mediator) as a tool for guiding others through conflict.
  • -Develop skills to foster voluntary cooperation rather than forced compliance.
  • -Practice techniques that enhance workplace relationships and team dynamics.

What Can I Expect in Class?

This course includes lectures, personal reflection and group activities and discussion. There are no pre-requisites for this course.

This class is presented online, live with instructors and consists of 3, 3 hour sessions:

  • Session 1– Necessary Knowledge Module
    • -Understand conflict and what people typically do in conflict
    • -Understand the forces of harmony
    • -Introduction to the Essential Process and why it works
  • Session 2 – Successful Conflict Conversations
  • Session 3 – Third Party Resolution

Students will be provided with 3 course modules in advance, and a novel “Managing Differences, How to Build Better Relationships at Work and Home” by Daniel Dana. We encourage students to read the items ahead of the class, but it is not required.

Attendance for all 3 sessions is mandatory to receive full credit hours (9 hours)

What are the Costs and Other Details?

The fee for this course is $800 plus GST.

Full attendance for all scheduled training days is mandatory.

Instructor: Marne Turnbull

Marne has spent 37 years in the dental world in public health and private practice as a dental hygienist and as a consultant with Transitions. She now owns Core Coaching Consulting. Marne transitioned into Conflict Management and has been on that career path for over 25 years. Her goal was to make a difference in managing conflict in her world and in the dental world and is still committed to making a difference by creating peace in the world—one conversation at a time.

Marne would like to introduce you to a tried and tested, simple, in- house system to manage differences. It was developed by Dr Dan Dana, named “The Conflict Doctor “ from the United States.