We recently had the privilege of hosting a webinar titled Tools for Effective Conversation and Conflict in a World of Difference, featuring the brilliant insights of our OpenSesame DEI subject matter expert, April Allen and Shawna Unger the dynamic leaders from Allen and Unger Consulting. Together, they explored tools for effective conversation and conflict in a world of difference. Inspired by their wisdom, we’ve curated a learning path to help anyone take these skills further.
This learning path is your toolkit for growth, innovation, and connection. With 37 courses and nearly 9 hours of engaging content, it guides you through key areas like conflict resolution, navigating difficult conversations, building psychological safety, and emotional intelligence. Here’s how it all comes together:
1. Understanding conflict
Before we can tackle conflict, we must first understand it. April and Shawna reminded us that conflict is not inherently negative. It’s a natural part of human interaction and often signals unmet needs or misaligned expectations. This section of the learning path will help you:
- Explore the roots of workplace conflict.
- Recognize your conflict hooks (competence, inclusion, autonomy).
- Understand how external influences shape conflict dynamics.
2. Navigating difficult conversations
As April said during the webinar, “we don’t solve conflict by avoiding it; we solve it by stepping into it with curiosity.” Difficult conversations can feel like tightrope walks, but with the right tools, you can find balance. This part of the learning path teaches you:
- How to approach challenging discussions with empathy.
- Techniques for reframing disagreements as opportunities.
- The art of listening to people you may disagree with (pro tip: it’s harder than it sounds but incredibly rewarding!).
3. Building psychological safety
One of the most memorable moments from the webinar was when we discussed creating environments where people feel safe to share their perspectives. Psychological safety isn’t just a buzzword—it’s the foundation of innovation and collaboration. Through this learning path, you’ll learn:
- The four stages of psychological safety.
- How to build trust in diverse teams.
- Strategies to create inclusive spaces for dialogue.
4. Conflict resolution and management
Once conflict arises, how do you address it effectively? The learning path’s courses focus on practical conflict resolution techniques that you can implement immediately. Key skills covered include:
- Understanding Conflict Resolution Models.
- Identifying when to negotiate, compromise, or stand firm.
- Learning how to separate people from problems.
5. Cultural competence and identity awareness
As April and Shawna emphasized, “Respect isn’t about agreement; it’s about being willing to sit with someone else’s truth.” In today’s diverse world, cultural competence is a must-have skill. This section helps you:
- Recognize biases and develop cultural humility.
- Build communication skills for cross-cultural understanding.
- Celebrate diversity in the workplace.
6. Emotional intelligence for leaders
Finally, no conversation about effective communication would be complete without emotional intelligence. April and Shawna shared stories of how emotional intelligence transforms conflict into collaboration. This section will guide you through:
- Developing self-awareness and empathy as a leader.
- Building trust and repairing it when it’s broken.
- Managing your own emotions to lead by example.
Start your learning journey today
Conflict is a part of life, but it doesn’t have to derail our relationships or goals. With the tools and insights from this learning path, you can transform conflict into a catalyst for growth and connection. Are you ready to navigate conflict with confidence? Explore the full learning path here and start your journey today.
About the author
An award-winning talent development professional, Liza Wisner has extensive experience working directly with executive leadership at organizations in both the private and public sectors to develop and deliver learning experiences. As OpenSesame’s Enterprise Curator specializing in DEI, she works with publishers and customers to curate the very best diversity, equity, and inclusion content for the OpenSesame catalog.
